Rajapaksa is of the view that it could be to his advantage if the election is delayed until the war crimes report on Sri Lanka is tabled before the UNHRC in Geneva in that month.

He fears that the report will recommend that he and several military leaders be brought before an international war crimes tribunal, an MP loyal to him told SLM.

However, president Maithripala Sirisena has assured US secretary of state John Kerry during his recent visit to the island that a national government would be in place before September.

During their talks, president Sirisena and secretary Kerry discussed the new government to be established.