Mahinda Rajapaksa has pledged to continue to engage in Sri Lankan politics, in a statement released on Wednesday.
The former president, who was defeated in this week's parliamentary elections, said he "humbly accepts" the results of the poll.
"I accept with humility, the result of the parliamentary election that just concluded and I thank the voters who placed their confidence in our party despite the unprecedented obstacles that we had to face. I also wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the activists and the people's representatives of our party who worked indefatigably in the election campaign. I will continue to engage in politics in keeping with the people's mandate and I will function within Parliament to safeguard the nation and the democratic system," he said.