President Mahinda Rajapaksa will hold a snap presidential election in early January, was the view of a majority of people in a Business Times (BT) email poll held this week. Asked whether the President will hold a (presidential) election in January 2015 or not, 72 per cent of the respondents said YES, while 19 per [...]

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The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Rajapaksa most likely to hold snap election, BT poll reveals

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa will hold a snap presidential election in early January, was the view of a majority of people in a Business Times (BT) email poll held this week.

Asked whether the President will hold a (presidential) election in January 2015 or not, 72 per cent of the respondents said YES, while 19 per cent said NO and the balance were unsure of either.

Speculation is rife that the President will hold a poll before the Pope’s visit on January 11 and informal campaigning has already begun.
Breaking tradition and possibly election laws, the Ministry of Economic Development issued a media statement on Friday headlined “SLFP revitalized: 494 confabs show party’s strength”. It said that under the theme ‘Blue Bastion to Defend Motherland’, 494 conferences representing Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) representatives, women’s and youth organisations have been held at electorate level in most parts of the country under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s guidance.

“The programme was launched to discuss the SLFP’s future course of action and matters pertaining to the people. There were 138 meetings of electoral representatives, 124 meetings of women’s organisations and 232 meetings of youth organisations. An unprecedented number participated in these conferences which were the most attractive gathering in the history of the SLFP,” the release said.

The BT poll drew more than 400 respondents from among influential company chairpersons, CEOs, corporate executives, civil society representatives and academics.

Here are comments received during the poll:

- Only the President’s astrologer Sumanadasa Abhayagunawardene can give a precise answer.

- It is very unlikely that he will call for an early election. Many of his key ministers are not supportive of the executive presidency.

- Reducing electricity bills and gas prices are indications of a snap election.

- An election is very likely and (UNP leader) Ranil should lead from the front like JRJ (Jayewardena) did in 1977 to face the MR juggernaut head on. Otherwise the UNP will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory!

- There is a strong probability that it will be a general election. The President is not fully confident of the support of all his ministers, MPs and also coalition partners. Therefore, it is quite likely that he will throw his parliamentarians into the battle field rather than himself first.

- Yes he will go for elections but I wish he wouldn’t. It will be very inconsiderate of him to do this as it will ruin the seasonal sales of most companies who depend on the Christmas and New Year season to meet their targets. This will be yet another serious dent in their already poor sales performance this year.

- If MR is given another term it is very unlikely he can be outvoted after that as the opposition will die a natural death and the Rajapaksha clan survival is guaranteed for a few decades whether we like it or not.

- A post papal visit election would be more strategic on multiple grounds. Consider the following. The publicity he will receive during the pope’s visit. Played right, this will be the best campaign platform anyone could ask for. It will also seal in the Christian/Catholic voter base. Further, elections soon after the papal visit also means that any campaigning by the others will be drowned out or the other candidates will hardly have any time to campaign. So why rush.

Rights of the President

One reader sent the following questions:

1. How rightfully can an incumbent President decide the time/date of the election while he/she being a contestant himself/herself?
2. Accurate or not, is it fair (even from an ethical point of view) that one contestant picks the best timing suited to his/her birth chart – and also the worst timing for the opposite candidate. (This is how they set up dates astrologically). Where is the level playing field that we talk about?
3. Shouldn’t there be an interim president (like our pro-tem chairman – consul protempore – in professional forums) when we elect the country’s chief executive? Wouldn’t it also help curtail the gross abuse of state machinery in an election by any contestant?
4. Why cannot the country have a fixed schedule of presidential election dates – every 6 years – a policy incorporated in the constitution itself? Thus, no one can manipulate – bring forward – or postpone the election. Isn’t this popular theory called ‘asking for a fresh mandate’ well before the time a mere political diversion?
5. Why don’t any sensible politicians (if any) / independent political activists focus on this fundamental flaw and vocally seek rectification?
6. Shouldn’t it be the Commissioner of Elections who holds the election as per the fixed schedule – and not the political authority of the day on their own timing?

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