evidence: "ECONOMYNEXT" of 5th July 2024, stated that ‘Businessman Dhammika Perera has said it is up to the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to decide who its presidential candidate should be and, until such time, he would continue his campaigning. Speaking to reporters at an SLPP event, Perera said 44 percent of the country have yet to decide whom to vote for should decide who the candidate should be. I’m watching and waiting. and "No matter how big anyone talks on stage, no one talks about how to develop the economy. I’m ready for the presidential election, but Sri Lanka’s biggest political party should decide who the candidate should be. Until then I’m doing what needs to be done to win the election, besides that, the biggest thing I have to do is, if I get on stage, I have to talk about developing the economy. I’m formulating that programme now" Your withdrawal from the presidential race, due to personal reasons, has been a significant setback, at this time the nation struggles to come out of the financial crisis and develop Sri Lanka.