Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duties at the Opposition Leader's Office in Parliament, a short while ago. 

The event was attended by a number of Parliamentarians representing the UPFA, including its General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera. 

Former Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva also attended the brief ceremony. 

Speaking to the gathering, the former President sais his only objective was to move out of the current office as soon as possible. 

He said he would do everything in his capacity to move out of his current office as the Opposition Leader in Parliament. 

The former President said he would soon return to the office at the "second floor" of the parliamentary complex - the office of the Prime Minister. 

This is Rajapaksa's second term as the Opposition Leader in Parliament. He previously became the Opposition Leader in April, 2004 and held the position until his appointment as the President in November 2005.