He says rumours are being spread by a certain group who has misunderstood a request by the president to submit a list of nominations.

It is the president who will take the final decision with regard to the SLFP’s nominations, he said.

However, talks are underway unofficially to form an alliance of parties and forces that got together to elect Maithripala Sirisena as the president.

The UNP, at its working committee meeting recently, decided to contest under the elephant symbol.