Sri Lanka's August elections timed to stop comeback by Mahinda Rajapaksa
Rajapaksa's crushing of a 26-year Tamil Tiger insurgency in 2009 won him support among the country's Sinhalese majority and he still has a very strong following.
Sri Lanka's August elections have been timed to stop a comeback by war-time president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who remarkably may see his popularity rise in coming months if criticised for war crimes in a UN report, said government sources.
Rajapaksa's crushing of a 26-year Tamil Tiger insurgency in 2009 won him support among the country's Sinhalese majority and he still has a very strong following.
Thousands rallied to hear him announce his comeback campaign on a Buddhist holiday in his Hambantota district on July 1.
"He is popular and a strong campaigner among Sinhala masses with the war victory," said Kusal Perera, director of the Centre for Social Democracy, a Colombo-based think tank.
The possibility of an early release prompted Sirisena to call elections for August 17 to give his ally Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe an edge and hopefully deny Rajapaksa any chance of a political resurgence, said sources close to Sirisena.
"Even if is not said openly, the UN report was considered when deciding the date," said Champika Ranawaka, power and energy minister and one of Sirisena's close allies.
The outcome of the elections will determine whether Sri Lanka under Sirisena continues to repair relations with India, or opts for greater ties with China under Rajapaksa.
Rajapaksa built close ties with China, helping Beijing establish a strategic foothold in the Indian Ocean to the chagrin of traditional ally India.
China built ports, airports, highways and power plants under Rajapaksa with more than US$5 billion in loans, and sent a submarine and warship to visit Colombo, irking India.
But Rajapaksa's decade-long rule was marred by allegations of corruption and rights violations. Rajapaksa, some former ministers and family members now face multiple investigations. They have denied any wrongdoing.
