1st LD Writethru: Ex-Sri Lankan president says to contest August polls

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday broke his silence with regards to the August 17 parliamentary elections and formally announced that he will be contesting the polls.

Speaking with a large crowd at his hometown in southern Tangalle town, the former president said he is not in a position to reject the request of his supporters for the contest.

"We cannot reject the request you have put before us. We will contest and look to form the next government," Rajapaksa said.

Rajapaksa, however, did not say under which political party he will look to contest and if he is still seeking the post of prime minister.

President Maithripala Sirisena, chairman of Rajapaksa's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had said earlier that Rajapaksa will not be made the prime ministerial candidate of the SLFP.

Rajapaksa said he will look to rectify any mistakes made in the past when looking to form the next government.

He also invited all political parties, including the ruling United National Party, to join hands with him at the upcoming election.

Rajapaksa also accused the current UNP-led government of making decisions which pose a threat to national security.

He recalled that despite a U.S. report stating that the international network of the Tamil Tigers was still active, the UNP government had decided to remove army camps and withdraw troops from the war ravaged North.

Several members of the opposition United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) were on stage with him when he made the announcement with regards to the parliament election. Endi