Rajapakse to lead a faction at Sri Lanka's upcoming election

Medamulana

Sri Lanka's former president Mahinda Rajapakse announced today he would lead an opposition faction at the upcoming general election, months after defeat in a presidential poll ended his decade in power.

Rajapakse, an autocratic ruler accused of siphoning off millions during his tenure, said he would spearhead a faction at parliamentary elections in August.

But he stopped short of saying whether he would contest a seat himself, after his hopes of standing as a prime ministerial candidate were blocked by his successor as president.

"I have no right to refuse the people's call," Rajapakse said at his home in Medamulana village in his southern stronghold of Hambantota where pictures of the former president with "I am ready" were posted.

"Therefore we must contest the upcoming general election," he told supporters, flanked by a handful of his former ministers.

Rajapakse appealed to "patriots" in all political parties to form a new unity government, six months after his defeat by current President Maithripala Sirisena.

Rajapakse had earlier told close aides that he wanted to run as a prime ministerial candidate in the August 17 poll and he was preparing to make that announcement today.