Polls on Jan 2; search for Opp. common candidate intensifies

President advances election date to ensure Pope’s visit; CBK emerges as contender

With the presidential elections advanced to January 2 next year to facilitate the Sri Lanka visit by Pope Francis, the main opposition United National Party (UNP) is still in search of a ‘common candidate.’

The task of finding one and forming a ‘common front’ has fallen on former UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema, now a Working Committee member and close confidant of national leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. He is now conducting talks with different opposition political parties and civil society organisations.The immediate choice has centred on former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Ku- maratunga. She is learnt to have asked Samarawickrema for three days’ time to respond. Kumaratunga, who has been under pressure from her immediate family not to contest, some UNP lawyers believe, would have another impediment – the Supreme Court conviction in the Water’s Edge Case for corruption and the imposition of a fine of Rs. 3 million.

The move to seek a ‘common candidate’ and the formation of a ‘common front’ is part of the UNP leadership’s efforts to ward off a crossover to the UPFA Government by Mangala Samaraweera.

A former Foreign Minister in the Rajapaksa Government, Samaraweera is now a Vice Presi- dent of the UNP.

The polls date has been advanced to January 2 from the earlier January 8 next year to allow more time to ensure all arrangements are in place for the visit of Pope Francis.