Sajith Premadasa, whose father Ranasinghe Premadasa had previously served as head of the United National Party (UNP) and had served in the roles of president and prime minister, is the leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

Yesterday, ahead of Sri Lanka’s presidential election, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Basil Rajapaksa, reportedly left for the United States for “medical purposes”.

He is said to have boarded the Emirates Airline flight EK 659 fom Katunayake Bandaranike International Airport at 3.05 AM to Dubai and will board a separate flight to America.

According to the party’s General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam;

At least five separate murders have taken place in the Colombo area of the last day, as gun violence increased around Sri Lanka’s capital in the run up to the presidential election.

There were at least five separate shootings, all of which resulted in the deaths of those targeted by unidentified assailants.

Sri Lanka’s presidential election could mark a significant milestone, as it might be the first time in history that a single candidate does not secure over 50% of the popular vote.

If so, it could make the outcome of the polls dependent on preferential voting, something that has never happened before on the island.

The Preferential Voting System Explained

Responding to a letter by Sri Lankan Police warning of deaths threats against the Tamil presidential candidate Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran, Tamil lawmaker MA Sumanthiran lashed out against the police and called on Ariyanenthiran to step down from his campaign.

The Tamil common candidate for Sri Lanka's presidential elections, Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran, received overwhelming support during a rally held in Nallur, Jaffna, yesterday.

(Image courtesy: Vijitha Herath Facebook Page)

Senior member of the National People's Power (NPP), Vijitha Herath, reiterating his party's commitment to preserving Sri Lanka’s unitary state and offering privileged protection to Buddhism under an NPP-led government, just days before voting in presidential elections begins.