[9] In practice, this system has seen little use, as each direct election going back to the first in 1981 has resulted in a candidate from one of the two major parties or alliances at the time winning in the first count.

[43] Earlier circulated polls prediction which was claimed done by National Intelligence Service was proved false and manipulated.

[45] Chamal Rajapaksa had also signaled his potential candidacy saying he would "willingly consider it if the party nominates him as the next presidential candidate", soon after the announcement made by his brother.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa was a leading government figure during the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War and the development processes of the Colombo metropolitan area and the Northern Province.

The power struggle between the president and UNP prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe led to the 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis.

[citation needed] Initially, party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe seemed to be the obvious choice for the candidacy and he reportedly expressed his intentions to run for the presidency in a meeting with other senior members.

[57] Amidst growing support for deputy leader Sajith Premadasa and party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe refusing to make a move, Speaker of the Parliament Karu Jayasuriya released a statement signaling his intention to run for presidency to end the confusion and avoid a rift within the party.

[58] However, the Sajith faction showed that they had the popular support among party members and followers by organizing successful rallies in Matara,[59] Kurunegala,[60] and Matugama.

[61] On 26 September 2019, the working committee of the United National Party unanimously picked Sajith Premadasa as the UNP presidential candidate.

[62][63] However, with many party seniors choosing to support the newly formed Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna led by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the SLFP was weakened and suffered a humiliating loss at the 2018 local elections, thus losing the credibility it had as the main opposition to the UNP.

[4] The National People's Power party announced Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake as their candidate in a massive rally on 18 August at Galle Face.

Tagging Sajith Premadasa he added, “It was a well fought battle”, “and the country needs your leadership at this critical time”.