President Mahinda Rajapaksa has, The Island learns, told a group of his confidants that he intends to hold, after bagging the Southern Provincial Council at today`s polls, a general election, where he will seek a two-third majority to change the Constitution.

`I have two more years left in office and I can either complete the full term or cut it short and return to Parliament,` sources quoted President Rajapaksa as telling his close allies on Thursday.

Earlier, the government had decided to go for a presidential election after the SPC polls and to hold a general election subsequently.

The Opposition is in the process of forming an alliance to face a presidential election expected early next year.

Sources said all those present at the meeting had subscribed to the President`s idea and it had been decided to consult other high-ranking party leaders on the matter.