Colombo, Nov 11 (IANS): The Sri Lankan Supreme Court has ruled that President Mahinda Rajapaksa can contest for a third term in office, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told parliament Tuesday.

He said that according to the court ruling, which had been forwarded to the president, there is no legal barrier preventing the president from holding an election after four years in office or seeking a third term, Xinhua reported.

The Supreme Court's decision on whether President Rajapaksa can contest for a third term was sent to the president Monday after he wrote to the court seeking its opinion.

The president had asked the court whether he could be elected to the office of president for a third term based on the constitution of the country after Sri Lankan opposition and some legal experts had said he could not contest.

A law which was passed in parliament in September 2010, known as the 18th Amendment, allows a president to contest an election for more than two terms as opposed to earlier laws which allows a president to sit for only two terms.

Rajapaksa won the 2010 January elections when he sought office for a second term.

The president is expected to hold a presidential election in January next year and the opposition is considering backing a joint opposition common candidate to contest against Rajapaksa.