Informed sources say that pro-Mahinda Rajapaksa camp will announce their prime ministerial candidate on July 01.

According to the sources their first rally will be held in Anuradhapura on July 06.

It was earlier reported that Rajapaksa met group of former MPs at his residentce in Colombo this morning.

On July 25 there was a meeting between president Maithripala Sirisena and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa reportedly took place at the Speaker's official residence.

However issuing a statement President's Media Devision refuted those reports.

Despite the denial, soures told Asian Mirror that the meeting did take place. Furthermore, during the reported one-to-one meeting, Sirisena requested Rajapaksa not to contest the the forthcoming general election. In response, Rajapaksa had maintained that it was now too late for such a request, sources said.