Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said his brother, former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, was certainly a contender for the next presidential election. 

In an interview with the Hindu newspaper, Rajapaksa dismissed doubts over Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's eligibility to contest at the next election due to his dual citizenship. 

The former President said it was clear that his son, Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, could not contest the Presidential election next year due to age barriers imposed by the constitution. 

"We can field a candidate acceptable to all parties" Rajapaksa, who is currently in India, explained . 

He also said there was an opinion that he could contest the Presidential election despite the 19th Amendment to the constitution. 

"That option too is available. I can contest and pick a legal battle in court over my candidacy. But we want to see whether we should take that risk or present another candidate acceptable to all," he said. 

However, he made it clear that he would lead the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) election campaign in 2020.