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Sri Lanka goes to polls as former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa plans comeback Sri Lanka goes to polls as former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa plans comeback
(about 1 hour later)
Sri Lanka began voting on Monday in a general election in which the former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa is hoping to pull off a shock comeback, this time as prime minister, months after being toppled as president.Sri Lanka began voting on Monday in a general election in which the former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa is hoping to pull off a shock comeback, this time as prime minister, months after being toppled as president.
Rajapaksa is confident of returning to power after drawing huge crowds on the election trail, despite the 69-year-old and his closest relatives facing corruption allegations.Rajapaksa is confident of returning to power after drawing huge crowds on the election trail, despite the 69-year-old and his closest relatives facing corruption allegations.
“This election is about whether you want Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister or not,” his spokesman, Rohan Valivita, told AFP.“This election is about whether you want Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister or not,” his spokesman, Rohan Valivita, told AFP.
Related: Stakes are high for Mahinda Rajapaksa as Sri Lanka heads to the pollsRelated: Stakes are high for Mahinda Rajapaksa as Sri Lanka heads to the polls
“He is 100% confident of victory” at the poll for the national parliament.“He is 100% confident of victory” at the poll for the national parliament.
His successor as president, Maithripala Sirisena, has vowed to thwart his one-time mentor’s ambitions to become prime minister.His successor as president, Maithripala Sirisena, has vowed to thwart his one-time mentor’s ambitions to become prime minister.
But even Rajapaksa’s opponents agree the election has turned into a referendum on the charismatic leader who ruled Sri Lanka for nearly a decade until his surprise defeat at a presidential poll in January.But even Rajapaksa’s opponents agree the election has turned into a referendum on the charismatic leader who ruled Sri Lanka for nearly a decade until his surprise defeat at a presidential poll in January.
Early voters in central Colombo said they were casting their ballots for reconciliation and good governance, showing sympathy for the United National party of prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
“I came to vote to have just and fair governance ... for people to live like humans,” said lawyer Rushdi Halid.
“The key issue is reconciliation,” said Sister Rita, a Christian nun.
The two men had been allies in their ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) until late last year when Sirisena quit as health minister to run for the presidency.The two men had been allies in their ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) until late last year when Sirisena quit as health minister to run for the presidency.
Polling booths opened across the island on Monday at 7am (0130 GMT), with voting set to continue for nine hours under tight security provided by 74,000 police and paramilitary forces, officials said.Polling booths opened across the island on Monday at 7am (0130 GMT), with voting set to continue for nine hours under tight security provided by 74,000 police and paramilitary forces, officials said.
Hundreds of voters had lined up outside some of the 12,300 polling booths before they opened, officials said adding strict security was being enforced to ensure a free and fair election.Hundreds of voters had lined up outside some of the 12,300 polling booths before they opened, officials said adding strict security was being enforced to ensure a free and fair election.
Around 15 million men and women over the age of 18 years are eligible to vote in the election for a 225-member parliament.Around 15 million men and women over the age of 18 years are eligible to vote in the election for a 225-member parliament.
Although there are no reliable opinion polls, no single party is expected to win a majority.Although there are no reliable opinion polls, no single party is expected to win a majority.
Observers say Rajapaksa’s polarising personality will undermine his chances of forming a coalition, especially as any potential prime minister would likely need the backing of minority groups.Observers say Rajapaksa’s polarising personality will undermine his chances of forming a coalition, especially as any potential prime minister would likely need the backing of minority groups.
Rajapaksa is hugely popular among big sections of the ethnic majority Sinhalese community for presiding over the crushing defeat of Tamil guerrillas in 2009 after their 37-year campaign for a separate homeland.Rajapaksa is hugely popular among big sections of the ethnic majority Sinhalese community for presiding over the crushing defeat of Tamil guerrillas in 2009 after their 37-year campaign for a separate homeland.
But he is also reviled by many minority Tamils who voted en masse for Sirisena in January after boycotting previous elections.But he is also reviled by many minority Tamils who voted en masse for Sirisena in January after boycotting previous elections.
Although Sirisena is now UPFA leader, his reluctant agreement to Rajapaksa’s candidacy highlighted his shaky hold on the party.Although Sirisena is now UPFA leader, his reluctant agreement to Rajapaksa’s candidacy highlighted his shaky hold on the party.
Sirisena is thought to prefer outgoing premier Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) to form the next government with backing from Tamil and Muslim parties. Sirisena is thought to prefer outgoing premier Wickremesinghe’s UNP to form the next government with backing from Tamil and Muslim parties.
“People don’t want Rajapaksa to come back,” Wickremesinghe said at his final press conference before the vote. Rajapakse’s return is “an attempt to resurrect the politically dead,” he said.“People don’t want Rajapaksa to come back,” Wickremesinghe said at his final press conference before the vote. Rajapakse’s return is “an attempt to resurrect the politically dead,” he said.