Rajapaksa to frame new constitution

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Tuesday agreed to form a new constitution and strengthen the campaign against corruption.

Launching his election manifesto, Rajapaksa, who is seeking a third term in power, recapped extensive infrastructure development carried out during his second term, Xinhua reported.

"When I came to power, only 60 percent of people had power. Now it's about 97 percent. There are new airports, highways, railroads, ports and airports. No one can point a finger at me and say I have done nothing," he said.

Rajapaksa said he won an "honourable peace" for the country by crushing the Tamil Tigers and said he would not let "outsiders" infringe on Sri Lanka's territorial integrity.

Rajapaksa was expected to run largely uncontested when he called for snap presidential polls in November, two years ahead of the end of his second term.

But an unexpected rival appeared when his health minister Maithripala Sirisena joined the opposition.

His allies -- the nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) -- also crossed over along with over a dozen MPs.

On Monday, Rajapaksa's trade minister, who represents a Muslim party, also left to join Sirisena.

The opposition is rallying against rampant corruption, nepotism and declining good governance. They have pledged to end the controversial executive presidency within 100 days.

Rajapaksa hit back, emphasising he would instill the much wanted reforms to fight corruption.

"I will bring in a new constitution with the assistance of the clergy, civil society, academics and trade unions," he said, adding that the focus of his third term would be to build a united country.