SLPP Has NOT selected Dhammika Perera as their presidential candidate so far, but Dhammika is on the list of potential candidates! 

දිනපතා සත්‍ය කරුණු දැන ගැනීමට අපගේ WhatsApp සමුහයටමෙතනින් එකතුවන්න.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe's announcement of the 2024 presidential election has sparked a flurry of social media posts speculating about potential candidates. Our investigation reveals a notable prevalence of misleading information in these posts. Emphasising the need for caution and reliance on credible sources, our efforts aim to debunk false rumours.

Social Media Posts

A series of social media posts based on some web news reports have been circulating recently, asserting that Dhammika Perera, a business tycoon and National List Member of Parliament for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), has been chosen as the presidential candidate for the upcoming 2024 election in Sri Lanka.

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Users commented on it like below.

Those social media posts are based on some web news reports, and some such reports can be read here and here.

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check

There are no reliable media reports or official statements by SLPP announcing that Dhammika Perera had been selected as SLPP's presidential candidate.

We contacted the SLPP's media spokesman, MP Sanjeewa Edirimanna, who categorically denied these claims. According to MP Edirimanna, the SLPP has not yet decided to announce a presidential candidate for the 2024 election, and the information circulating on social media is deemed misleading and false.

Speaking to the media, MP Namal Rajapaksa stated that new office bearers for SLPP were announced recently but had left the post of national organiser vacant this time with a request for Basil Rajapaksa to take over at one point. The party’s executive committee, which met at the official residence of leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, made these decisions.

MP Sagara Kariyawasam was again appointed General Secretary, while MP Pavitra Wanniarachchi was appointed as the new treasurer of SLPP. Ven. Uthurawala Dammaratana Thera was reappointed as the chairman of the party.

Meanwhile, during a media briefing held on December 20th, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), MP Sagara Kariyawasam, stated that the party is currently in the process and is considering 3-4 potential candidates for the upcoming presidential election. Dhammika Perera, according to the SLPP General Secretary, is among the individuals under consideration.

However, the General Secretary emphasized that a final decision has not been reached thus far. The official announcement regarding the party's chosen candidate for the 2024 presidential election is expected to be made closer to the election date.The statement of the general secretary can be listened here

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has officially rejected the claims about Dhammika Perera's candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. As of now, no such decision has been made by the party, as confirmed by their media spokesman as well as general secretary.