Minister Prasanna Ranatunga says he personally believes the SLPP has no right to avoid supporting Ranil Wickremesinghe at the next presidential election.
If the party is without an alternative candidate, it should support Wickremesinghe, the minister told journalists after a meeting of the Galle district coordinating committee.
He also said that the presidential election would definitely be held this year.
Once party founder Basil Rajapaksa arrives in the island, the SLPP will strengthen its mechanism and decide on how to contest the presidential polls, he added.
