The president made this known during a meeting with a leftist party as he held several rounds of talks with leaders of UPFA affiliate parties today (29).

Several minority and leftist parties had asked him not to name Rajapaksa as the prime ministerial candidate, the sources say.

The president is yet to make an official statement regarding this.

Report by six-member committee

Meanwhile, a six-member committee, appointed to coordinate between messrs. Sirisena and Rajapaksa, is to hand over its report to the president today.

Member of the committee T.B. Ekanayake said the president has agreed to give nominations to Rajapaksa on the UPFA ticket.

UPFA general secretary Susil Premajayantha too, wants nominations given to Rajapaksa, said Ekanayake.

However, SLFP deputy secretary Duminda Dissanayake says Premajayantha cannot take a decision on his own.

The UPFA comprises 14 parties, and half of its 58 executive committee members are from the SLFP.

President Sirisena is presently having a meeting with Premajayantha and SLFP general secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.