President Maithripala Sirisena and his family have left for India on a personal visit early this morning. 

Sources close to the President said Sirisena and his family would pay tribute to the Tirupathy temple during the visit. 

Sirisena will return to the country later this week. 

Sirisena is expected to announce an early presidential election if he succeeds in his bid to secure candidacy from the Rajapaksa camp