On Monday Sri Lanka's president called a snap election for April 25 after sacking the national parliament where his party led a minority government.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa received power to dissolve the 225-member legislature as it completes four and half out of its five year term.
Rajapaksa, 70, won a landslide in the November presidential polls and appointed his older brother and former president Mahinda as prime minister at the time.
Political parties and independent groups are able to file nomination papers later this month and the first session of the newly elected parliament has been scheduled for May 14.