Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's faction is expected to announce its decision on the election this afternoon, Rajapaksa's spokesman Rohan Welivita told Asian Mirror.

 

He said that several key members of the Rajapaksa faction will attend a press conference at 4pm today at Abhayarama Temple in Colombo to announce the decision.

 

It has now become clear that Rajapaksa will not be given nominations from the SLFP. The Rajapaksa camp held frentic negotiations last night on the issue.

 

Rajapaksa is reportedly considering the possibility of contesting from another alliance including Wimal Weerawansa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Dinesh Gunawardena, Udaya Gammanpila and his supporters in the SLFP.