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Three more candidates have placed their deposits today (Aug 05) in order to contest the 2024 Presidential Election, the Election Commission said.

Accordingly, 17 candidates in total have placed their deposits with the Election Commission thus far.

This includes seven independent candidates whose names have been nominated by a voter, nine candidates from recognized political parties and one candidate from other political parties.

The independent candidates who have placed bonds today are Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Siripala Amarasinghe while K.R. Krishan of ‘Arunalu Janatha Peramuna’ has also placed deposits with the elections regulatory body.

Earlier, deposits had been placed on behalf of the independent candidates President Ranil Wickremesinghe, K. Ananda Kularatne, Ven. Akmeemana Dayaratane Thero and former MP Sarath Keerthirathne while 13 others placed their bonds from recognized and other political parties.

These include Oshala Herath from ‘Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna’, ASP Liyanage of the Sri Lanka Labour Party, Sajith Premadasa of the ‘Samagi Jana Balawegaya’, P W S K Bandaranayake from ‘Jathika Sanwardhana Peramuna’, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe of the ‘National Democratic Front’, Siritunga Jayasuriya of the ‘United Socialist Party’ and Ajantha De Zoysa of ‘Ruhunu Janatha Party’ Sarath Manamendra of ‘Nawa Sihala Urumaya’ and Ven. Battaramulle Seelaratane Thero of ‘Janasetha Peramuna’.

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka had issued a Gazette on July 26 declaring that the 2024 Presidential Election will be held on the 21st September 2024 and that nominations will be accepted on 15 August 2024.

The Election Commission emphasizes that false information is circulating alleging that the voters registered in the voter’s list will be facilitated to cast their vote at any polling station in the island.

Issuing a statement, the election regulatory body refuted these reports and said that the voters must vote at the polling station assigned to their registered constituency only, as per election regulations.

Additionally, postal voters retain the option to cast their vote in the presence of their Certifying Officer, providing a measure of convenience for those unable to visit their designated polling station, the statement added.

In preparation for the upcoming election, the Commission will send official ballot notices to registered voters. These notices will include the voter’s name, the address of the polling station where they are eligible to vote, and detailed voting instructions, the commission said.

The Election Commission emphasizes that no one is allowed to vote in a polling station other than the polling station mentioned in the ballot notice.

However, on July 26, the election commission had published an extraordinary gazette notification stating that a person who is reasonably fearful that he will not be able to go to and cast the vote at the given polling station, may request to be facilitated to vote at another polling station.

The gazette notification highlighted that the provisions of Section 119B of the Presidential Elections Act, No. 15 of 1981, as amended by the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 16 of 1988, have provided in this regard.

Bonds have been placed on behalf of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka today (05), to contest in the 2024 Presidential Election as an independent candidate.

Dhammika Ratnayake has paced the cash deposit on behalf of Fonseka.

On July 25, Fonseka officially announced his presidential candidacy stating that, “A lot of people have asked me to contest for the presidential election and I am looking forward to accepting the call of the people of Sri Lanka.”

The former Army Commander, who contested the 2010 presidential election as the common opposition candidate, invited every Sri Lankan to join him “to take Sri Lanka forward.”

A decorated military officer, Fonseka was the eighteenth Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, and under his command the Sri Lankan Army ended the 26-year war against the LTTE in 2009. He thereafter briefly served as the Chief of Defence Staff.

After retiring from the army with the rank of General, he entered politics as the common opposition candidate in the 2010 presidential election contesting against then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Following his defeat in the presidential election, he was elected to Parliament in the general election that followed.

Fonseka was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal by then President Maithripala Sirisena on 22 March 2015, becoming the first Sri Lankan Army officer to be promoted to the rank.

A total 16 candidates have placed their deposits with the Election Commission thus far.

This includes 7 independent candidates whose names have been nominated by a voter, eight candidates from recognized political parties and one candidate from other political parties.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Convenor and Kalutara District Leader MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena said that he will extend his support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the upcoming Presidential Election.

Speaking at an event held in his electorate on Sunday (04), MP Abeygunawardena said that he made the decision responding to the request of party supporters.

He stressed that his decision is not a move against his leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.

However, he added that there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in politics.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has decided to offer its conditional support to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the 2024 Presidential Election, SLMC leader MP Rauff Hakeem said.

This decision has been reached during the party’s Supreme Council meeting which was held today (04).

Speaking to the media following the discussion, Hakeem stated that the Supreme Council of the SLMC decided to support opposition leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election subject to conditions.

He mentioned that accordingly, the SLMC will hold a discussion with Premadasa in the near future and that they expect to reach agreements on certain matters with him during that discussion.

However, MP Hakeem claimed that the SLMC is not inclined towards any other political party, and that they do not expect any ministerial or other positions by supporting the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) during the forthcoming presidential election.

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The SLPP will expel its members who act against party decisions irrespective of their positions, said its general secretary Sagara Kariyawasam in a letter.

The party’s politburo has taken the decision unanimously, he said.

It comes in the wake of some party politicians having decided to support incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe at the presidential polls.

State minister Piyal Nishantha is one of the recipients of the said letter.

He said they would not fear any such letters, adding that their decision was based on the services rendered by the president to the county.

MP Dayasiri Jayasekara declared today that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will throw its support behind Leader of the Samagi Jana alliance and the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming Presidential Election.

“As the SLFP, our central committee has been steadfastly opposed to the current government. Therefore, we cannot extend our support to them,” MP Jayasekara said, emphasizing the party’s decision to maintain its stance since November 11, 2023, when it resolved not to align with the government.

MP Jayasekara underscored the party’s commitment to uphold the decision made by its Central Committee, asserting that they have adhered to this directive without deviation.

He said that the focus now is on supporting Sajith Premadasa’s candidacy to secure victory in the upcoming election and usher in a new era of governance.

He reiterated the SLFP’s vision of establishing a government characterized by integrity, free from corruption, capable of driving the nation forward.