Sri Lankans turned out in large numbers yesterday to vote in the nation’s tightest election in decades, despite reports of intimidation as the country’s president battles for his political survival.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse appeared assured of victory when he called snap polls in November, seeking an unprecedented third term five years after crushing a violent separatist rebellion that had traumatized the country for decades.
However, he has more recently been dogged by accusations of increasing authoritarianism and corruption, and a failure to bring about national reconciliation.
Former minister of health Maithripala Sirisena’s shock decision to defect from the government and stand against the president led to a bitterly fought campaign for an election analysts say is too close to call.
Rajapakse said he was confident of a “resounding victory” and promised a peaceful post-election period as he cast his ballot.
With independent monitors warning of voter intimidation, US Secretary of State John Kerry this week urged Rajapakse to ensure the election was peaceful and credible.
Opposition supporters have accused the government of deploying troops to ethnic Tamil-dominated areas, including the northern Jaffna peninsula, where the president is widely disliked.
A loud explosion was heard outside a polling station in Jaffna early yesterday in what Tamil leaders said was an attempt to deter voting, but there were indications turnout was unusually high.
“We are seeing heightened enthusiasm among minorities,” Campaign for Free and Fair Elections head Keerthi Thennakoon said.
Tamil translator S. Sebanayagam said he had to wait in line to cast his vote in Jaffna.
“There were lots of people ahead of me, including some very elderly people who seemed keen to vote,” Sebanayagam said.
Tamils are Sri Lanka’s largest minority, accounting for 13 percent of the population, and could decide the election if the majority Sinhalese vote is split between Rajapakse and his main opponent.
Sirisena was a relative unknown until he announced he was standing as the main opposition candidate, but his decision to run against the incumbent has led a slew of defections and become a rallying point for disaffection with Rajapakse and his powerful family.
“My victory is in sight. There is support for us everywhere,” Sirisena said as he cast his vote, promising a “new political culture.”
Rajapakse is the longest-serving leader in South Asia and had appeared politically invincible after his forces crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009 and brought peace to the island.
He won a landslide election victory in 2010, but critics say he has failed to bring about reconciliation with Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority in the years that followed.
Critics say he has overseen a period of rampant corruption, undermining the independence of the judiciary and lining the pockets of political cronies through lucrative contracts.
The 69-year-old president removed the two-term limit on the presidency and gave himself more powers soon after winning his second term. He has packed the government with relatives, sparking resentment even within his own party.
Opposition groups, including the main Tamil party, have rallied behind Sirisena, a 63-year-old farmer-turned-politician who, like Rajapakse, is from the majority Sinhalese community.
The president has taken drastic measures to shore up support, slashing fuel prices, cutting water and electricity tariffs, and giving subsidized motorcycles and hefty pay increases to 1.6 million public servants.
Polls opened at 7am for nine hours of voting under tight security, an elections department official said. There are 19 candidates in all with results expected today.
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