UPFA MP Dilum Amunugama said yesterday that the 'Joint Opposition' backing former PResident Mahinda Rajapaksa will definitely form a new party.

Speaking at the signing of the petition in defence of the war heroes at Kandy, he said that there was no secret of the intention to form a new party.

The name and the symbol of the party will be revealed once the government decides to call the Local Government Polls, Amunugama said.

"Mahinda Rajapaksa is our leader. The rest will be revealed once the election is announced", Amunugama said.

Some 'Joint Opposition' Members including almost all non-SLFP UPFA MPs have been insisting that the new party will be formed to face the Local Elections. However, political sources also said that several SLFP MPs of the 'Joint Opposition' were planning to remain in opposition while not joining the new party. They were against the national government but also against the division of the SLFP, sources also said.