Polls on Bandaranaike Day: Questions on Pope's visit

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga engaged in some light hearted banter over her successor, Mahinda Rajapaksa seeking astrological advice to conduct the Presidential poll on January 8.

"Whichever astrologer made that forecast, the date is even more auspicious for us. That was the day my father was born," she told a meeting at the Opposition Leader's office at Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha Friday evening.

For Kumaratunga and Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena, among others, the event came after she had ended a televised news conference at the New Town Hall. Wickremesinghe was there after he chaired a meeting of his party's Working Committee at Siri Kotha.

Her late father S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was born on January 8, 1899 and was assassinated on September 26, 1959.

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Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has officially declared December 8 as Nomination Day with the Presidential polls on January 8. At least two top dignitaries in the UPFA had wanted the poll on either January 2 or 3 on the grounds that it would give sufficient ' lead time' for the visit of Pope Francis to Sri Lanka.

In terms of the Presidential Elections Act, nominations have to be called for within 16 to 21 days of a proclamation being issued. The period between nominations and polls is four to six weeks.

Fixing the polls date for January 8 has once again raised an all important question - the visit of Pope Francis to Sri Lanka from January 13 to 15. Whilst not speculating on the outcome, it may be recalled that the Vatican did request considerable time, possibly at least ten days, before such a visit would finally be given the go ahead. Last week, the Church here said the visit was thus far on schedule.