Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa will announce former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's candidacy on August 11, multiple sources close to the Rajapaksa camp told Asian Mirror.

They added that the entire SLPP camp is on the same page about Rajapaksa's Presidential candidacy.

The announcement will be made at the national convention of the SLPP in Cololmbo.

Upon the announcement of his candidacy, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is set to visit a number of religious places across the county within a week.

Our sources added that the close associates of the former Defence Secretary are currently in the process of drafting policy frameworks for Rajapaksa's election manifesto.