MS wants SLFP renewal, MR interested only in himself, what is RW planning for the UNP?
by Rajan Philips-May 16, 2015, 12:00 pm
The country will soon have a replay of the January presidential election; sort of. Sure, it will be a parliamentary election unlike the presidential election in January, but just as in January the upcoming election will revolve around the same three key personalities although in a drastically different triangle of power relationship. In January, it was Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) who was in power and seeking an unprecedented and fraudulent third term in office. This time, MR has created for himself an existential question: To run, or not to run? Either way he will be a factor in the election, but neither imposing nor intimidating as he used to be when he was President. Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW) will become the new incumbent in the next election, as incumbent Prime Minister, that is. He will be seeking to electorally validate his position that he obtained by way of a constitutional appointment after the January presidential election. Of the three, it will be Maithripala Sirisena (MS) who can afford to sit back and enjoy the fun and fray of the election.