Rajapaksa: no hurry to hold elections early, unless opposition wishes

Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa said Thursday he is no hurry to hold snap elections next year, but is ready to do so if the opposition requested it. See Colombo Gazette’s report here

Speaking to newspaper editors at a breakfast meeting, Mr. Rajapaksa said his term did not end till 2016, but he was prepared to hold presidential or general elections if the United National Party (UNP) formally requested it.

“I will need to ask the opposition leader what election he wants first,” the President said, jokingly.

Mr. Rajapaksa is in his second term but in 2010 his government amended the constitution to abolish a two-term limit and allow presidents to seek re-election any number of times.

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