Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena will not seek re-election

Sri Lanka is holding a presidential election on November 16

President Maithripala Sirisena did not file a nomination, and popular former defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa is seen as the front runner

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Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrives to submit his nomination papers. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 11:44pm, 7 Oct 2019Updated: 10:42am, 8 Oct 2019

A record 35 candidates filed nominations on Monday for next month’s Sri Lankan presidential election, but the incumbent, Maithripala Sirisena, has opted not to seek a second term after the entry of popular former defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is considered the favourite.

Rajapaksa, who served as defence chief under his brother and then-president Mahinda Rajapaksa, is popular for his part in ending Sri Lanka’s long civil war a decade ago.

President Maithripala Sirisena, who likely would have had difficulty beating Gotabaya Rajapaksa, did not pay a mandatory deposit by a Sunday deadline and became ineligible to file a nomination. Rajapaksa represents a breakaway party of Sirisena’s and has the loyalty of a majority from Sirisena’s party.

A record 41 aspirants paid deposits before the deadline, but six of them pulled out of the race. The Election Commission opened a two-hour period for nominations on Monday.

Former president and incumbent opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. Photo: EPA-EFE

The 35 candidates are the most to contest a presidential election in the Indian Ocean island nation. The previous high was 22 candidates in 2010.

Rajapaksa said after filing his nomination that he is confident of winning.