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Ex-President of Sri Lanka Says He’ll Lead Opposition in Elections Ex-President of Sri Lanka Says He’ll Lead Opposition in Elections
(about 4 hours later)
MEDAMULANA, Sri Lanka — Six months after his defeat in presidential elections, Sri Lanka’s former president took the stage on Wednesday in the gardens of his home in this southern village to tell a crowd of thousands that he would lead an opposition group in parliamentary elections in August. MEDAMULANA, Sri Lanka — Six months after his defeat in presidential elections, Sri Lanka’s former president took the stage on Wednesday in the gardens of his home in this southern village to tell a crowd of thousands that he would lead an opposition group in parliamentary elections in August.
“I am not ready to reject the appeal you are all making,” said the former leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa, amid the sound of firecrackers in the distance. “For the sake of this country, for the sake of the motherland, we must contest in the upcoming parliamentary elections.” “I am not ready to reject the appeal you are all making,” said the former leader, Mahinda Rajapakse. “For the sake of this country, for the sake of the motherland, we must contest in the upcoming parliamentary elections.”
Mr. Rajapaksa stopped short of indicating that he, himself, would fight for a seat in the country’s 225-member Parliament in the elections on Aug. 17. But he vowed that the opposition faction he is leading would go forward with a “great wall” of people’s power. Mr. Rajapakse stopped short of indicating that he himself would fight for a seat in the country’s 225-member Parliament in the elections on Aug. 17. But he vowed that the opposition faction he is leading would go forward with a “great wall” of people’s power.
The former president sought to play up his political victories, including his defeat of a long-running Tamil ethnic insurgency in 2009. He accused the current administration, led by President Maithripala Sirisenia, of removing army camps in the country’s north, a claim the government has repeatedly denied. The former president sought to play up his political victories, including his defeat of a long-running Tamil ethnic insurgency in 2009. He accused the current administration, led by President Maithripala Sirisena, of removing army camps in the country’s north, a claim the government has repeatedly denied.
But his entry is complicated by disillusionment among many in his own Sri Lanka Freedom Party, rancor that led to his ouster by Mr. Sirisenia, his former health minister, who also received support from opposition parties. But his entry is complicated by disillusionment among many in his own Sri Lanka Freedom Party, rancor that led to his ouster by Mr. Sirisena, his former health minister, who also received support from opposition parties.
Analysts stressed that the political arena had changed significantly from six months ago, and not necessarily in Mr. Rajapaksa’s favor. Analysts stressed that the political arena had changed significantly from six months ago, and not necessarily in Mr. Rajapakse’s favor.
“He obtained 5.8 million votes when he was contesting at the height of his power, with the full weight of the state machinery at his back,” said Victor Ivan, a political analyst and journalist based in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital. “Now he comes into the fray, if he contests directly, as a candidate once defeated, that will result in an erosion of electoral support.” “He obtained 5.8 million votes when he was contesting at the height of his power, with the full weight of the state machinery at his back,” said Victor Ivan, a political analyst and journalist based in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital. “Now he comes into the fray, if he contests directly, as a candidate once defeated. That will result in an erosion of electoral support.”
However, Mr. Ivan said that Mr. Rajapaksa’s entry could split the vote and further weaken the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, possibly handing the rival United National Party an easy victory. However, Mr. Ivan said that Mr. Rajapakse’s entry could split the vote and further weaken the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, possibly handing the rival United National Party an easy victory.
In a statement released Tuesday, Mr. Sirisenia’s office ruled out declaring Mr. Rajapaksa the prime ministerial candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party or the United People Freedom Alliance, a coalition to which the party belongs. But Mr. Rajapaksa’s aides said the former president was hoping for a nomination from the party or the coalition that he led for nearly a decade. In a statement released Tuesday, Mr. Sirisena’s office ruled out declaring Mr. Rajapakse the prime ministerial candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party or the United People Freedom Alliance, a coalition to which the party belongs. But Mr. Rajapakse’s aides said the former president was hoping for a nomination from the party or the coalition.
Mahindananda Aluthgamage, the former sports minister and a Rajapaska loyalist, insisted that the former leader would contest the election through another political party if Mr. Sirisenia refused to aid his parliamentary bid. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, the former sports minister and a Rajapakse loyalist, insisted that the former leader would contest the election through another political party if Mr. Sirisena refused to aid his parliamentary bid.
Thousands of supporters, bused in for the occasion, attended Mr. Rajapaksa’s speech. One of them, Rohith Gamini, 54, said he had traveled for hours from his hometown in northwestern Sri Lanka to arrive in time for the announcement. Thousands of supporters, bused in for the occasion, attended Mr. Rajapakse’s speech. One of them, Rohith Gamini, 54, said he had traveled for hours to arrive in time for the announcement.
“If our President Mahinda Rajapaksa doesn’t contest, I will not even vote in the parliamentary election,” he said. “If our President Mahinda Rajapakse doesn’t contest, I will not even vote in the parliamentary election,” he said.