SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera dismissed claims by MP Kumara Welgama saying the latter has not been nominated as a Presidential candidate by the party.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, Jayasekera said, "If the SLFP decides to field a candidate, we have President Maithripala Sirisena. We haven't considered Kumara Welgama as an option."

Welgama recently told the media that he would like to run for the presidency on the SLFP ticket. Speaking to the media, Welgama identified himself as the 'Kaluganthota Sinhaya' (the lion of Kaluganthota).

Welgama also said he did not wish to be a part of the SLFP campaign if the party decided to throw its weight behind SLPP candidate former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.