Four more candidates have placed their deposits today (Aug 02) in order to contest the 2024 Presidential Election, the Election Commission said.

Accordingly, 14 candidates in total have placed their deposits with the Election Commission thus far.

This includes five independent candidates whose names have been nominated by a voter, eight candidates from recognized political parties and one candidate from other political parties.

The independent candidates who have placed bonds today are K. Ananda Kularatne and Ven. Akmeemana Dayaratane Thero, while Sarath Manamendra of ‘Nawa Sihala Urumaya’ and Ven. Battaramulle Seelaratane Thero of ‘Janasetha Peramuna’ have also placed their deposits with the elections regulatory body.

Earlier, deposits had been placed on behalf of the independent candidates President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former MP Sarath Keerthirathne while eight others placed their bonds from recognized and other political parties.

These include Oshala Herath from ‘Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna’, ASP Liyanage of the Sri Lanka Labour Party, Sajith Premadasa of the ‘Samagi Jana Balawegaya’, P W S K Bandaranayake from ‘Jathika Sanwardhana Peramuna’, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe of the ‘National Democratic Front’, Siritunga Jayasuriya of the ‘United Socialist Party’ and Ajantha De Zoysa of ‘Ruhunu Janatha Party’.

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka issued a Gazette on July 26 declaring that the date for holding the poll for the presidential election as 21st September 2024 and nominations will be accepted on 15 August 2024.