Sri Lanka Parliament election likely on April 8

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Akbar Majid

10 February, 2010

ELECTION TO the Sri Lankan parliament is likely to be held on April 8 after President Mahinda Rajapaksa dissolved the parliament effectively from midnight Wednesday.

ELECTION TO the Sri Lankan parliament is likely to be held on April 8 after President Mahinda Rajapaksa dissolved the parliament effectively from midnight Wednesday. Rajapaksa had given this order on Tuesday close on the heels of putting former army chief Sarath Fonseka behind bars for allegedly orchestrating an assassination attempt.

Rajapaksa was elected in November 2005 and during his tenure managed to forge unity with main opposition party on issues concerning national importance. It was also agreed that the government and the opposition will cooperate on the Tamil issue, which has tormented the country for past several years.

The President, however, managed to split the opposition and pulled over a number of opposition parliamentarians into his side. There were a number of up and downs for the President since then, however, Rajapakasa's overwhelming victory in recent elections has allowed him a complete control of the political situation in the country.

Meanwhile, opposition parties in Sri Lanka have said that they will oppose the arrest of Gen Fonseka and will approach the court to get him freed. Fonseka was arrested for conspiring with anti-government forces and planning to carry out an assassination.

Opposition parties have also expressed fears that the former Army chief could be killed in detention.