A senior member of Sri Lanka’s government has announced he is quitting the ruling party to stand against it.
Current Sri Lanka government’s Health Minister and general secretary of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party، has declared he will stand as the main opposition candidate against his former leader، Rajapaksa in the upcoming elections.
“I thank the UNP (United National Party) for choosing me as the common opposition candidate،” said Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena، adding “I am grateful to the UNP for choosing the general secretary of the SLFP to be their candidate، we will definitely win.”
Sirisena made the announcment during a press conference in Colombo، in the company of three other ministers and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Meanwhile، President Rajapaksa who came to power in 2005، declared that he will be seek an unprecedented third term as president. A move possible after he pushed through changes into the constitution.
Though Rajapaksa remains popular among the majority of Sinhalese voters after overseeing the end of a 37-year war against Tamil separatists on 2009، many critics has stressed he has become increasingly authoritarian.
“The country is heading towards a dictatorship،” Sirisena criticized President Rajapaksa، and also accused the president of nepotism، adding “The entire economy and every aspect of society is controlled by one family،” which is a reference to President’s brothers، who includes speaker of parliament Chamal Rajapaksa.
The exact date for the Sri Lankan elections has not been announced، but it is expected to take place during the second week of coming January.