Sri Lanka’s opposition coalition splits ahead of parliamentary elections

Sri Lanka’s opposition coalition splits

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s opposition coalition said Friday it has split after its defeated presidential candidate was detained on allegations of sedition, further strengthening President Mahinda Rajapaksa ahead of April 8 parliamentary polls.

Opposition official Vijitha Herath said the coalition of four main parties and several smaller groups broke up after its biggest partner, the United National Party, decided to go it alone in the upcoming elections.

The split will weaken opposition prospects of checking Rajapaksa’s power by taking control of Parliament after his re-election as president last month. Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition controlled 128 seats in the 225-member legislature before it was dissolved earlier this month for the elections.

Herath said other opposition parties are now planning to form a new front with defeated presidential candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka.

The military arrested Fonseka nearly two weeks after his election defeat. Though charges against him have not yet been specified, government officials have alleged various offenses from plotting to overthrow the government while in military service to taking kickbacks on arms deals.

Opposition parties describe Fonseka’s arrest as punishment for daring to challenge Rajapaksa. Fonseka has accused the president of election fraud and has petitioned the Supreme Court to declare the presidential election void.

Rajapaksa and Fonseka were strong allies who together defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels last year, ending the country’s 25-year civil war.

But they soon had a falling out, and Fonseka quit the army and ran for the presidency against Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, the governing coalition United People’s Freedom Alliance is trying to get celebrities to run as its candidates to attract more votes.

Susanthika Jayasinghe, a sprinter who became Sri Lanka’s second ever Olympic medalist after winning the 200-meter women’s silver medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and cricket star Sanath Jayasuriya will run for parliamentary seats, Information Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.