Lankan minister to challenge Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan Health Minister Mithripala Sirisena resigned on Friday and said he would run as an opposition candidate against President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a snap election in January. The challenge from within his own ranks will be a blow for Rajapaksa, who is seeking an unprecedented third term and remains a popular leader despite foreign criticism over his sweeping powers and human rights record. ‘One family has taken control of the economy, power and the party,’ Sirisena said.

‘The country is moving toward a dictatorship.’ Sirisena, who is also the general secretary of Sri Lanka Freedom Party  headed by Rajapaksa, defected a day after the president announced a poll in January despite a request from allies not to go for an early election. The fisheries minister and three other lawmakers also resigned, pledging support for Sirisena.