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Sri Lanka To Hold Snap Presidential Poll

by lalith | November 23, 2009 at 09:02 am

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Sri Lanka To Hold Snap Presidential Poll

By: Ramjit-->

COLOMBO, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has decided to opt for a presidential election two years ahead of schedule, China's Xinhua news agency reported quoting government sources as saying Monday.

Officials from the presidential secretariat said the president had signed the proclamation calling early presidential elections, but refused to release more details.

Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Mass Media and Information was quoted by local media as saying that Rajapakse met party leaders Monday morning and told them his intention to go for a presidential election.

This decision will end months of speculation whether the president would opt for the parliamentary or presidential elections.

Rajapakse's tenure will end in 2011 but the government wants to hold an early presidential election to capitalise on its victory against Tamil Tiger rebels in May, analysts say.

Rajapakse's plan to call an early election has been upset by the opposition parties' attempt to field former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka as the opposition's common presidential candidate.

Fonseka, who was the Army Commander from December 2005 to July 2009, was equally credited for the government's military success over the rebels.

President Rajapaksa received 50.1% of the votes and Ranil Wickramasinghe, the leader of the oposition received 48%. As per the Sri Lanka constitution, a candidate must receive over 50% of the vote to be eligible to be the President of the country.

It was speculated that Wickramasinghe would receive only 30 to 35% and President Rajapaksa 60 to 65% if it was a straight fight between them. Perhaps, this was what the President was looking at when he decided to have the Presidential elections after 4 years in office when he could have gone the full 6 year term.

At this time, the Fonseka Factor was not in effect. Now that the General has shown his intention of contesting, the complexion of the elections has changed. If it is a three pronged election with Rajapaksa, Wickramasinghe and Fonseka contesting, speculation is that no one will get 50%+. In this case, as per the constitution of the country, two or more contestants polling a total of over 50% of the votes can nominate a President elect. This scenario would have been unsatisfactory for President Rajapaksa.

However, it is said that General. Sarath Fonseka would contest as a common candidate opposite the President. Although it looks as if Rajapaksa will win the elections, it is not going to be an easy run for him at all.

“If Rajapaksa has to contest anyone other than the general, he will sweep through,” said Jehan Perera , director of the National Peace Council, a non-governmental advocacy group. “If Fonseka contests, it will be very close.”