Sri Lanka’s new political path
Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa has failed to make a comeback with his defeat in the country’s general elections.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s former president, was hoping that a victory in Monday’s general elections would pave the way for him to become the next prime minister. But the coalition that defeated him in January’s presidential elections has made big gains.
Rajapaksa is seen as a “warrior king” for ending a nearly 30-year-long civil war with the separatist fighters known as Tamil Tigers. But he was also accused of widespread human-rights abuses, especially in the final months of the conflict.
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So, is this defeat the end of Rajapaksa’s political ambitions?
And will President Maithripala Sirisena go ahead with his promised reforms?
Presenter: Jane Dutton
Guests:
Rajiva Wijesinha – Senior Professor at the University of Sabaragamuwa and former UPFA member of parliament.
Ravi Kumar – General-Secretary, British Tamils Forum.
Eran Wickramaratne – United National Party member and Deputy Minister of Highways and Investment Promotions for the Sri Lankan government.
Published On 19 Aug 2015