SRI LANKA-POLITICS/RAJAPAKSA Rajapaksa "ready for struggle" in Sri Lanka comeback bid

Record ID: 145838

  • Title: SRI LANKA-POLITICS/RAJAPAKSA Rajapaksa "ready for struggle" in Sri Lanka comeback bid
  • Date: 29th July 2015
  • Summary: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (JULY 28, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FORMER PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA ARRIVING AT THE EVENT VARIOUS OF RAJAPAKSA SPEAKING TO OFFICIALS WHILE SEATED DANCE PERFORMANCE
  • Embargoed: 13th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Sri Lanka
  • Country: Sri Lanka
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA58B14KQSXY9UGC3VZOQUX12HS
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Sri Lanka's former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa vowed on Tuesday (July 28) to reclaim power in a general election, eight months after he was ousted as president, saying he was "ready for struggle" against an international war crimes investigation.
    Defeated by erstwhile ally Maithripala Sirisena in January, Rajapaksa wants to turn the tables at the Aug. 17 parliamentary polls, setting his sights on the post of prime minister that has been beefed up under constitutional reforms.
    Launching his manifesto, the 69-year-old sought to mobilise public opinion against a U.N. investigation into suspected atrocities committed against minority Tamils towards the end of Sri Lanka's 26-year civil war.
    "We think fresh. We are ready for a struggle and war on behalf of the country. Let's think fresh, we can do it," Rajapaksa said as he announced policies designed to appeal to poorer voters in the island nation of 21 million off southeast India.
    The U.N. report on human rights in the final stages of the war in 2009, when Rajapaksa's military crushed resistance in the Tamil-speaking north, is due to be released after the election.
    The United Nations estimated in 2011 that up to 40,000 civilians died in the final army assault.
    Appealing to his core base of Buddhist Sinhalese speakers, who make up more than seven in 10 voters, Rajapaksa said: "They are going to form a national government by promising to re-merge the north and east and promising to take us to the Geneva war tribunal."
    Rajapaksa is also under investigation for suspected misuse and misappropriation of public funds, while his brothers are fighting corruption charges. He denies wrongdoing.
    His opponents accuse him of overpaying for investments backed by China. The biggest is the $1.4 billion Colombo Port City project, a symbol of China's influence and a waystation on its most important trade route.
    Rajapaksa's dwelt on his past achievements as leader and gave few clues as to what he would do if elected, beyond promising cheap goods for the poor.
    His supporters praised him for the achievements.
    "It is clear for us that this country can be taken forward only if President Mahinda Rajapaksa returns as a strong leader with more powers," said Wimaladarma Abeywickrama, a professor.
    "He won the war, developed the country, built the roads. He did a lot of things. I think he is good," said Kiran Janz, a taxi driver.
    Rajapaksa conceded the leadership of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party after his election defeat, but Sirisena's failure to take control of the party left the door open for him to regroup and contest the election.
    There has been no opinion poll on the election, but political analysts say Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party-led coalition, which backed Sirisena in January, has an edge over Rajapaksa's party.
    "I don't think he (Rajapaksa) can win enough seats as the United People's Freedom Alliance to be able to form the next government. No, I don't think that there is that ground swell, public support to carry him into office," said Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, executive director at the Centre for Policy Alternatives.
    He added that UPFA is not offering anything new and just keeps talking about the past.
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