Former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said former President Mahinda Rajapaksa would make the final decision on the Joint Opposition's presidential candidate as the latter was still the leader of their movement. 

Addressing a meeting organized by the 'Eliya' group. in Godagama today, Rajapaksa said the UNP was the most curious party about the JO's Presidential candidate. 

"It was the same UNP that did not allow its leader to become the Presidential candidate at two elections," Rajapaksa added. 

 He said his party should put the correct plan and strategies in place to win the next Presidential election, without worrying too much about the candidates. 

"When we have such systems in place," Rajapaksa said, "we will certainly win the election irrespective of the candidate."

Addressing the same meeting, however, JO MP Bandula Gunawardena said Gotabhaya Rajapaksa should be the Presidential candidate of his movement. 

"He is a witness to the national freedom struggle," Gunawardena said, alluding to Rajapaksa's role in the military assault on the LTTE.