A senior Buddhist monk says President Maithiripala Sirisena told him he did not know about the nomination of Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest the forthcoming general elections.
Maduluwawe Sobitha, a key figure responsible for Sirisena's victory at January 8 vote, told reporters that he spoke with the president who claimed he was unaware of Rajapaksa getting a UPFA ticket.
"He says "mama danne na" ( I don't know)," the monk told reporters. "Let's wait for him to make a statement."
Several members of Sirisena's SLFP are reported to be holding discussions with the UNP to cross over, according to UNP Minister John Amaratunga.
"There are several proposals that involve SLFP members of the Maithripala Group who want to contest the upcoming general election from the UNP," Mr Amaratunga said adding that the SLFP members are not "quite happy with the way things are going" and are "deeply saddened" by the nomination of the former president.
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