They are planning to obtain the consent of the SLFP’s central committee to submit this proposal to the party’s 65th anniversary convention at Welagedara Stadium in Kurunegala on September 04.

However, senior SLFP ministers are of the view that it will be difficult to get president Sirisena to contest again, as he has already given a promise to the world community that he would abolish the executive presidency before his term ends.

Noting however that he has not said that he would retire from politics after completing his tenure, these ministers are in agreement that he could be fielded as the SLFP’s prime ministerial candidate at a general election.