While ruling out the possibility of fielding Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as the presidential candidate of the Joint Opposition, Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama said his group would opt for a "democratic leader." 

"We only want Mahinda Rajapaksa. We don't want to think of a world beyond Mahinda Rajapaksa," (Apita Mahinda Rajapaksagen eha lokayak nehe) Welgama told media after a meeting at the former President's residence in Colombo. 

"If Gotabhaya Rajapaksa wants to be the President, he has to come into the democratic stream," Welgama said. 

"However," he added, "the head of state should be Mahinda Rajapaksa." 

The Joint Opposition seem to be sharply divided over its candidate for the next Presidential election. 

All three brothers of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa - Basil, Chamal and Gotabhaya - have been proposed as potential candidates of the Joint Opposition.