Amidst the heat of the presidential election, President Mahinda Rajapaksa left for India this morning on his way to Nepal to attend the 18th SAARC Summit. 

On the sidelines of the summit, the President will hold important bilateral discussions with leaders of the South Asian regions, sources from the government said. A special focus, according to them, will be given to discussions with Indian authorities just one and a half months ahead of a crucial presidential election.

The Indian factor remains an important factor when it comes to politics of Sri Lanka - especially elections. 

President Rajapaksa will be accompanied by External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris, Monitoring MP of the External Affairs Ministry Sajin Vaas Gunawardena and Secretary to the External Affairs Ministry Kshenuka Seneviratne during the visit.

The election campaign of the President will be officially launched upon the delegation's return to Sri Lanka. 

In President Rajapaksa's absence, the election preparations of the party will be overlooked by SLFP National Organizer and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa. 

A day before the President's visit to Nepal, his party claimed a moral victory in the Parliament by getting the budget passed with a majority of 95 votes.