The common opposition candidate for next month’s presidential elections, Maithripala Sirisena, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with several parties and civil society groups.

The signing, under the patronage of member of the Buddhist clergy, Maduluwawe Sobitha, took place earlier today in Colombo.

Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga Bandaranaike, UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe and Democratic Party chief Sarath Fonseka were amongst the signatories who signed the MoU.

See full text of the MoU here.

Sirisena began his election campaign on Sunday, with a rally in his constituency of Pollonurawa, alongside Wickremasinghe.

The Bodu Bala Sena’s General Secretary Galagoda Gnanasara denied that the organisation had decided to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa in next month’s presidential elections.

Speaking to media on Monday, Gnanasara said the BBS never stated that it would support the incumbent or his government.

“What we have stated is that there is an international conspiracy to destroy Sri Lanka and we have stressed the need of defeating that. It is the people who should make the final decision. We are only raising awareness on the conspiracy,” Gnanasara said.

Only last week Gnanasara pledged “unconditional support” to the president.

President Rajapaksa's former coalition partner, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the opposition candidate for the forthcoming presidential election, Maithripala Sirisena, reported Colombo Gazette.

The JHU had put forward some proposals to the opposition candidate, which were rejected by Mahinda Rajapaksa, causing the party run by Buddhist monks to leave the ruling UPFA coalition.

Earlier today Sirisena signed an MoU with other opposition parties, including the UNP.

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed today that western countries were intent on bringing dummies into power around the world, adding they were trying to do the same in Sri Lanka, reported the DailyMirror.