evidence: COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday declared his candidacy to contest the presidential election in September as an independent candidate by depositing money to contest the upcoming polls. [...] President's Counsel Ronald Perera placed a cash deposit on behalf of Wickremesinghe, 75, as an independent candidate for the presidential election, the state-run Daily News newspaper reported. The president will contest as an independent candidate, Perera told the media after placing the bonds on Wickremesinghe's behalf, the NewsFirst news portal reported.