Sri Lanka: ex-strongman Rajapakse tries to return to legislative elections

In Sri Lanka, polling stations closed on Monday at 4 p.m. local time, after legislative elections placed under enhanced protection. 74,000 police and gendarmes monitored the ballot.

With these elections, the country’s former strongman, Mahinda Rajapakse, president for nearly ten years until his failure in the January presidential election, is trying to return to center stage by becoming prime minister. Many of his relatives are embroiled in corruption charges.

His main opponent is outgoing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has headed a minority government since January. The latter accuses Mahinda Rajapakse of seeking above all to obtain parliamentary immunity from possible prosecution.

Even though the polls are questionable in Sri Lanka, the outgoing Prime Minister is a favorite.

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