No plans to make MR PM

According to a statement from the President's Media Unit no arrangements have been made to name a Prime Ministerial candidate from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) thus far. The statement quoted President Maithripala Sirisena as saying  that he had not found any of the applicants for an SLFP ticket suitable to be declared the Prime Ministerial candidate and mentions the former President. The SLFP Chairman was quoted by media as saying  that Mahinda Rajapaksa has not been declared or accepted as the Prime Ministerial candidate thus far. The statement said that following the elections, the choice will be made after consulting the MPs elected on the SLFP ticket and the ticket of the larger alliance, the United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA). Against this backdrop there is  speculations that the President may opt to contest separately, probably from the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna. Staunch Rajapaksa supporters allege that former President has no option now but to contest separately. The former President is to announce his decision today, at 10.30 am, from Medamulana.     Captured below are scenes from Hambanthota ahead of Rajapaksa's announcement