Following the victory of the United People's Freedom Alliance in the 2 April 2004 Sri Lankan legislative elections, he was mentioned as a possible candidate for Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, but on 6 April President Kumaratunga appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa to the post.
Setelah kemenangan Aliansi Kebebasan Rakyat Bersatu pada 2 April 2004 dalam pemilu legislatif Sri Lanka, ia disebut-sebut sebagai calon Perdana Menteri Sri Lanka, namun pada 6 April Presiden Kumaratunga melantik Mahinda Rajapakse dalam jabatan tersebut.