President Ranil Wickremesinghe will contest the upcoming presidential elections under a common alliance with a new symbol, it is learnt.
The President has directed Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and President's Secretary Saman Ekanayake to carry out necessary arrangements in this regard.
Informed sources say that the President intends to contest the presidential election as the national candidate of a grand alliance with the support of a number of parties including the Nimal Lanza faction and a group of senior SLPP lawmakers.
Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga and State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon have already intimated their desire to support the President.
