The UNP and the UPFA have announced their final nominations for the general elections, to be held on August 17.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will contest for the UNP led alliance from Colombo, alongside finance minister Rav Karunanayake, Harsha de Silva, Mano Ganeshan and the head of the JHU, a party led by Buddhist monks, Champika Ranawaka.
For President Maithripala Sirisena's UPFA, the capital will be contested by party heavyweights and Mahinda-loyalists, General Secretary Susil Premajayantha, chief whip in the last parliament, Dinesh Gunawardena and Wimal Weerawansa of the NFF.
Mahinda Rajapaksa leads the nomination list of the UPFA in Kurunegala.
The UNP decided to field another member of the JHU, Athuraliye Rathana, who is a monk, on their national list, alongside Karu Jayasuriya and Dr. Jayampathi Wickramaratne.
On the UPFA's national list are former ministers and more Mahinda-loyalists, including GL Peiris, Tissa Vitharane, Rajiva Wijesinghe and Charitha Herath.
Mahinda Rajapaksa to run for Sri Lanka's prime minister post (13 July 2015)
UNP, JHU and SLFP members sign MOU at Temple Trees (12 July 2015)