The people want a new party and are searching for a new leader, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

Speaking to media in Beruwala, Rajapaksa said that he had never betrayed the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

"It is easy to see who had betrayed the party", he said. "The UNP is in government, the SLFP is in government. The TNA is in government and have been given the Opposition Leader post. The JVP is also in government" the former President added.