The 'Joint Opposition' which supports former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has planned to launch a new political front to contest the upcoming Local Government Elections, political sources said.

Accordingly, the 'Joint Opposition' has planned to launch a front named "Ape Sri Lanka Peramuna" or Our Sri Lanka Front, to contest the election.

Several political parties including the National Freedom Front, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya and Left Democratic Front are expected to join in forming this new alliance along with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Rajapaksa camp.

The Rajapaksa camp had been in discussions on the possibility of launching a new front to contest the local elections. Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudva Nanayakkara were among those who had been publicly declaring the possibility of contesting separately from the UPFA.

Meanwhile, President Maithripala Sirisena decided to postpone the LG Elections by six months. Sources said that the President had taken this decision as the SLFP was yet to find a solution to its internal power struggle. Meanwhile, according to some SLFP Ministers in government, the 'Joint Opposition is on the verge of a split. Minister S.B. Dissanayake recently claimed that 15 MPs were ready to join the government.