Denying rumours that former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has left the country following the SLFP's humiliating defeat at the Local Government polls, the former President's media team today released pictures of her meeting with a group of film directors. 

A media spokesman for the former President said the rumours were being spread by groups with interests. 

The photogra[hs had apparently being taken at the reconciliation office in Colombo, headed by Kumaratunga.

The rumours started floating around as the former President failed to secure her family's traditional seat, Attanagalle, at the Local Government election. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the party supported by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, won the Attanagalle Pradeshiya Sabha, with a resounding majority. 

The Attanagalle electorate has been held by members of the Bandaranaike family since 1931. 

In some polling stations within the Attanagalle electorate, the SLFP, whose campaign in the area led by Kumaratunga, became fourth. Kunaratunga was often at the butt-end of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna's criticism as she was a strong critique of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family.