Contrary to expectations, Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa has refrained from
announcing the dates for presidential or general elections at a key convention of the ruling party, only saying that a decision will be taken in due course.
Addressing the annual National Convention of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) at the Khettarama cricket stadium here last evening, the president kept the estimated crowd of nearly one lakh guessing on the election dates.
Even as members and delegates heard his observations in rapt attention, he asked them to give their choice whether to hold parliamentary or presidential elections first. They said elections for the president's post, in which Rajapaksa can otherwise continue for two more years, should be held first.
"Do you want me to cut short two years? I will tell the party and let you know at the right time," The president said.
The parliamentary polls are due by April next year. The victory over LTTE prompted the ruling alliance to ponder over the choice of calling early presidential and general elections as it felt that Rajapaksa can easily get another term riding on the popular wave after annihilation of the rebels and killing of their supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.
However, Rajapaksa got a jolt when chief of defence staff General Sarath Fonseka, who led the army to victory over LTTE, quit last week amid speculation that he will be opposition's candidate to challenge the President in case of early polls.
Fonseka has, meanwhile, said he will take a decision on joining politics in a day or two.
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