Another set of government MPs are set to join the Opposition's Common candidate Maithripala Sirisena on Monday December 8 after nominations for the Presidential election are submitted.

Common Opposition Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena will relinquish the powers of the Executive Presidency after his election, but will have Provincial Councils retain their executive powers under the Constitution.

For the first time in the history of banking in Sri Lanka, Chinese nationals have been given a say in the country's economy and finances with the National Development Bank (NDB) setting up a separate unit for them, the China news agency Xinhua reported.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that he is being contested by a Chandrika-Mangala alliance at next month's election.