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“The
opposition’s attempt to reopen democratic space also brings with it
risks of violence and instability ... The tighter the race, the more
violent it threatens to be”.
Alan Keenan, Crisis Group’s Sri Lanka Senior Analyst
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The sudden emergence of a strong opposition candidate caught many,
including President Mahinda Rajapaksa, by surprise. Running on a
platform of constitutional reforms to limit executive power and restore
independent oversight bodies, the opposition coalition led by former
Rajapaksa colleague Maithripala Sirisena seems set to pose the first
strong challenge to Rajapaksa in nearly a decade. Amid a restrictive
climate for civil society, for Tamils and for religious minorities, the
risk of serious election-related violence merits close international
attention and active efforts to prevent political instability, including
the possibility of extra-constitutional means by Rajapaksa to retain
power. Read more>>>
