According to the newspaper, Rajapaksa has stated thus after paying a courtesy call to the 'Podi Hamuduruwo' of the Colombagama Temple in Kurunegala recently.

The 'Randiva' further reports :

Although Rajapaksa's original intention is to secure nominations from the SLFP for the General election, he is to seek candidacy under the ticket of an alternate group of the SLFP or of another political alliance if his original plan does not seem to work out, sources further say.

It is also revealed that Mahinda Rajapaksa has already secured the backing of several Buddhist monks in the Kurunegala district.

Upon inquiring of this from the media spokesperson of Mahinda Rajapaksa - Rohan Weliwita, he said that as far as he is aware, Rajapaksa is yet to take a firm decision on whether to contest the upcoming election.

(Randiva)