Sri Lanka's Marxist party JVP on Sunday named Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the presidential candidate of its broader political front National People's Power (NPP).
The presidential elections in Sri Lanka are to be held later this year.
Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's brother Gotabhaya was named as the main opposition challenger last week.
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was a part of the coalition of incumbent president Maithripala Sirisena when he was elected in 2015 after defeating Rajapaksa.
Dissanayake becomes only the third presidential candidate in JVP's history since 1960s.
Dissanayake's candidature and the backing he is expected to garner from the civil society towards the new alliance NPP would severely affect the electoral chances of the United National Party (UNP)-led alliance which is yet to be formed, experts feel.
The incumbent prime minister and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the parliamentary speaker Karu Jayasuriya both want to be the presidential candidates from the UNP.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app