Lanka talks over Rajapaksa’s political comeback fails

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s attempt to stage a political comeback and become prime minister suffered a setback on Thursday  when talks within the ruling UPFA to let him lead the campaign in the general elections failed.

“The talks to make him (Rajapaksa) lead the polls campaign completely failed,” said Vasudeva Nanayakkara, a Rajapaksa loyalist.

Nanayakkara said constituent party leaders of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) alliance had met President Maithripala Sirisena to make a last ditch attempt to see if Rajapaksa could be made the prime ministerial candidate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for August 17.

“The plan was to have a common list from both sides (Sirisena’s and Rajapaksa’s), Nanayakkara said. But Sirisena apparently rejected to agree to Rajapaksa’s nominations. Sirisena has come under pressure against his leaning over Rajapaksa’s nominations, compelling the faction led by the ex-president to hold several meetings to sort out the issue. Rajapaksa, 69, who lost to Sirisena in the January presidential election, publicly announced on Wednesday  that he wanted to lead an opposition faction in the August elections. His attempted return to UPFA is being blocked by Sirisena, 63, in line with the mandate he received against Rajapaksa, accused of multiple graft charges.