'I am contesting for Ratnapura District from the United Peoples Freedom Alliance in the next general elections on August 17, 2015. As you know funds are required to meet the fairly large expenditure I am compelled to incur. However I shall restrict such expenditure to a minimum. Therefore, I am seeking your financial support to raise the necessary funds and request you to be a partner in my election campaign.  Please contribute $ 500.00 towards my campaign, if possible,' the letter sent via email says.

'If not, please make the maximum contribution you can.  Make your contributions to the account stated in the attachment or contact me via e-mail so I can facilitate the international transaction,' the letter adds.

Upon inquiring of this from Mr. Nanayakkara's Democratic Left Front party secretary - G.V.V. Thilakasiri, he said that this is nothing new and that funds have previously been raised in this manner.

However, the only novel feature is using email for this purpose, he added.

The letter in full is shown below :

Dear Friend/Comrade,

I am contesting for Ratnapura District from the United Peoples Freedom Alliance in the next general elections on August 17, 2015. As you know funds are required to meet the fairly large expenditure I am compelled to incur. However I shall restrict such expenditure to a minimum. Therefore, I am seeking your financial support to raise the necessary funds and request you to be a partner in my election campaign.  Please contribute $ 500.00 towards my campaign, if possible. If not, please make the maximum contribution you can.  Make your contributions to the account stated in the attachment or contact me via e-mail so I can facilitate the international transaction .

Thank you

Vasudeva Nanayakkara