Trump repeats jibes at Canada and Greenland after Trudeau's resignation    North Korea says new hypersonic missile will 'contain' rivals    Russia claims capture of Ukrainian front-line town    Five dead as huge winter storm grips swathe of US    Rabigh waterspout declared the strongest of its kind    67% surge in commercial registrations in 4Q 2024    Heavy rain hits Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah Al-Shafiyah in Madinah and Al-Basateen in Jeddah record highest rate of rainfall    Saudi FM and U.S. envoy to Lebanon discuss regional issues    PIF announces $7 billion inaugural Murabaha Credit Facility    Golden Globes 2025: France's 'Emilia Pérez' wins big, as 'The Brutalist' nabs major awards    Alabama nursing student wins Miss America 2025    New York first US city to have congestion charge    Demi Moore continues comeback with Golden Globe win    Dakar and CATRION team up to elevate catering experience at Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2025    Projected funding needs for 2025 estimated at SR139 billion as per annual borrowing plan    Bahrain stage dramatic comeback to defeat Oman and claim Khaleeji Zain 26 title    Elon Musk confirms Starlink application to launch internet services in Pakistan    AC Milan beats Juventus 2-1 to reach Supercoppa final against Inter    Ronaldo eyes AFC Champions League glory with Al Nassr    Meghan announces new Netflix lifestyle show    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sri Lanka to test post-war popularity
By Ranga Sirilal
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 08 - 2009

Presidential allies and analysts expect Rajapaksa to call an early national poll to ensure his popularity does not wane, particularly now that a $2.6 billion International Monetary Fund loan has come through.
Under the loan, the government has agreed to cut its budget deficit to 5 percent in 2011 from 7.7 percent in 2008, and many economists say that could make it difficult for his government to maintain some of its populist measures and a top-heavy cabinet.
Sri Lanka called an election in President Mahinda Rajapaksa's native province, taking one of the last steps needed before he can call nationwide polls to capitalize on his victory over Tamil Tiger rebels.
The poll in the Southern Province will be the last provincial vote in the island nation excluding the Northern Province, totally captured by the military when it defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels and ended a 25-year war on May 18. W.P Sumanasiri, additional commissioner at the Department of Elections, said the election date has not been fixed yet and notice to call nominations will be issued within a week.
Rajapaksa's ruling coalition has won six provincial elections since May 2008, and his dissolving of the Southern provincial council late on Monday fuelled further speculation he will call a national vote early to secure another six-year term.
The earliest he can call a presidential poll, under the constitution, is when he completes his fourth year at the helm in November. The next parliamentary election should be held in April, while the next presidential poll is due in November 2011.
On Saturday, Sri Lanka will hold elections in the southern province of Uva and the northern towns of Jaffna and Vavuniya, two cities that were at the periphery of the territory controlled by the rebels for most of the 25-year separatist war.
The upcoming elections in the north are the first in the towns since 1998, and are aimed at entrenching civilian administrations there.
Rajapaksa has promised to let civilians who lived in the Tamil Tigers' self-declared state to vote in an election but some 250,000 displaced by the war are still stuck in military


Clic here to read the story from its source.