Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa said Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa would assume the leadership of the Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) next Sunday.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, the former Minister said the official announcement would come on August 11 at the national convention of the party.

The former Minister, however, indicated that the former President would risk his current post as the Opposition Leader when assuming the leadership of the SLPP.

It is not immediately whether the former President discussed this matter with President Maithripala Sirisena when they met earlier this week.

Meanwhile, former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's name will be announced at the same event as the SLPP's Presidential candidate.