Lanka polls 'timed to foil' Rajapaksa's comeback

(MENAFN- Arab News) COLOMBO: 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 criticized 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 Center for Social Democracy a Colombo-based think tank.
A UN report on the last days of the war is due for release in September but an aide to President Maithripala Sirisena said diplomatic sources had warned it may be leaked in late August.
The possibility of an early release prompted Sirisena to call elections for Aug. 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' Champika Ranawaka power and energy minister and one of Sirisena's close allies told Reuters.
Foreign diplomatic sources said some Western countries also worried the UN report could help Rajapaksa and urged Sirisena not to delay elections.
Dissolving parliament for August elections has also saved Wickremesinghe from a scheduled no-confidence motion over alleged mismanagement of the economy.
The outcome of the elections will also 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 $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.
Sirisena has been trying to reverse some of the steps Rajapaksa took to consolidate power by depoliticizing state institutions such as the police judiciary and public services.
He has re-established ties with India making India his first foreign visit and questioned deals with China including a $1.4 billion luxury property and port project. 'China has been trying to strengthen its relationship with the new government' a top government official told Reuters.
Dullas Alahapperuma a minister under Rajapaksa said if Rajapaksa forms the next government the former presdient would resume all projects stopped by Sirisena.
Sirisena is a former minister in Rajapaksa's administration who defected last year to become president promising fresh elections in 2015.