Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera, Convener of the National Movement for a Just Society, states that the NMJS has decided to field a common candidate for the next presidential election under a common symbol.

The movement is to conduct the election campaign based on the need to abolish the executive presidency. It also expressed confidence that the political parties and leaders who support abolition of executive presidency would rally around the movement for a just society.  

Sobitha Thera has stated that the decision was taken after a Working Committee meeting at the Sri Naga Viharaya, Kotte. He stated that the election campaign will be kicked off after a conference at Kandy on August 26.

The NMJS intends to hold talks with political and religious leaders, trade unions, professionals, artists and various other organizations on the presidential campaign of the common candidate. It also expects to hold seminars covering all parts of the island.

Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera emphasized that comprehensive discussions were held at the meeting on coming to agreements with all political parties and other organizations to come together in the presidential election as a divided campaign by the opposition cannot win the election.

The United National Party has already announced that it would field a presidential candidate from the party under the symbol ‘Elephant’.