Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the opposition of Sri Lanka, has withdrawn his presidential candidacy from consideration.

"For the greater good of my country that I love and the people I cherish, I hereby withdraw my candidacy for the position of president," Premadasa said on Twitter.

His party and "our alliance and our opposition partners will work hard towards making" Dullas Alahapperuma the winner, he added.

The announcement came minutes before nominations were formally presented to parliament on Tuesday. 

Besides Alahapperuma, the acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe and legislator Anura Kumara Dissanayake have also announced their intention to enter the race for the presidency.

(Cover: Sri Lankan police man a barricade as high security is provided in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 16, 2022. /CFP)