Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva has met with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Kandy this morning, political sources revealed to Ada Derana.

At this meeting, Rajapaksa was briefed on the decisions taken at the discussion held last evening with the participation of President Maithripala Sirisena, SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha and the opposition leader.

Sources say that Nimal Siripala de Silva informed the former President that President Sirisena had agreed to give nominations to Mahinda Rajapaksa contest the General Election from the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

However, it is reported that the President has not agreed to name Rajapaksa as the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate.

Meanwhile the ex-President is expected to submit these decisions for discussion at the UPFA leaders’ meeting scheduled to be held this evening. He will formally announce the decisions reached at the discussion tomorrow (01).

In the meantime the report of the six-member committee appointed to coordinate between the former President and the incumbent President will be handed over to the latter within the day.

However, the chairman of the said committee John Seneviratne has said that presently the relationship between the former President and the incumbent President has strengthened and that his committee emphasized to them the importance of protecting the party.

Meanwhile certain minority parties are today expected to hold discussion with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).