After realising that it has now become obvious that Common Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena's popularity is on the rise following poll surveys and Intelligence reports, Minister Basil Rajapaksa is now looking at "alternatives" to prevent a possible defeat of the President, government insiders have revealed.

Opposition party central figures have voiced concern that Common Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena could have been the target of two claymore mines found in a cemetery in Nittambuwa as he was to address an election rally at the Gampaha Urban Council ground on Wednesday.

Opposition political parties are making plans to move onto the streets before a second count is done if President Mahinda Rajapaksa does not obtain more than 50 percent of next month's vote, the Deshiya Hithishia Movement (National Patriotic) head Prof Gunadasa Amerasekera said.

Senior DIG Anura Senanayake, who was to go on mandatory pension from Jan. 08, 2015, is to receive another service extension of six months, reports say.

A deep suspicion has arisen in a backdrop of military personnel being used for political activities to secure support for the government at the Presidential election, Executive Director of Campaign for Free & Fair Elections (CaFFE) - Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon says.

Kalutara District Member of Parliament Vidura Wickremanayake once described the political climate in the country as a rotting dead body.

Former Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) member Udaya Gammanpila wants to start a new political party with other members who broke away last month.