Colombo: Sri Lankan President Sirisena has decided not to stand for re-election, which is due in November. Sirisena will step down after the election, which means that he would be vacating the President’s seat 52 days before his five-year term expires.
The spokesperson of Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) confirmed that the leader was not seeking a re-election.
Meanwhile, the leader of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party, Mahindra Rajapaksa, has fielded his two brothers as candidates.
Sirisena made a controversy last year when he sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and posted Mahindra Rajapaksa for the post. However, the Supreme Court of the country struck down the President’s decision and reinstated Ranil Wickremesinghe back as Prime Minister.
15.99 million Sri Lankans are expected to vote in the Presidential election on 16 November. Forty one candidates have paid deposits by Sunday noon to contest the election to the post of President in the Island nation.