Sri Lanka President Seeks Re-Election in Snap Polls

Veteran Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse confirmed Thursday he will seek an unprecedented third term in office, with snap elections expected early next year.

Rajapakse, who remains popular with many voters after overseeing the end of the war against Tamil separatists, will seek to extend his rule until 2021 in a contest that is likely to precede a papal visit in January.

"President signs proclamation declaring his intention to hold a Presidential Election seeking another term," Rajapakse's office said in a brief statement.

The proclamation has been sent to the chief elections commissioner, who will set the date for the polls in line with the Sri Lankan constitution.

The announcement came soon after Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the election would be held in early January, while not giving an exact date.

Officials speaking on condition of anonymity said nominations could be called in the first week of December and the vote was likely to take place on a single day across the country between January 7 and 9.

Pro-government astrologers have previously said that the first week of January would be the most auspicious for the president.

The government was also keen to complete the ballot before the scheduled visit to the island by Pope Francis from January 13 to 15, with the Church warning that parties should not use the visit for political advantage.

Rajapakse came to power after narrowly winning the 2005 election, and went onto to increase his majority in 2010 after government troops crushed separatist Tamil rebels at the end of a 37-year war.

The 69-year-old had promised in 2005 to return the country to a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy by abolishing the all-powerful executive presidency.

But, after winning a second term, he rewrote the constitution, removing the two-term limit on the presidency and giving himself more powers over the entire administration.

The election is being held two years ahead of schedule. Under the island's constitution, the incumbent is allowed to call fresh polls after completing four of his six years in office.

It is the first time in that a president has sought a third term since the former British colony, which lies at the foot of India, adopted a presidential system of government in 1978.

Rajapakse's United People's Freedom Alliance vote share plummeted at local elections in September as it suffered its worst performance since he came to power nine years ago.

However, a fractured opposition has failed to agree on a common candidate who could mount a serious challenge to Rajapakse.

There was no immediate reaction from the main opposition United National Party, which is facing internal strife over a common candidate who could challenge Rajapakse.

The ruling party too is facing internal squabbles, but Rajapakse himself remains popular among the majority Sinhalese community after he oversaw the victory over the Tamil Tigers rebels in 2009.

On his 69th birthday Tuesday, Rajapakse suffered a minor political setback when a key ally, Sri Lanka's main party of Buddhist monks announced it was quitting the government in protest at his failure to loosen his grip on power before a re-election bid.

The JHU, or National Heritage Party, said their departure was not a challenge from an "enemy force", but wanted the president to change course and scrap the presidency.

The JHU campaigned for Rajapakse at two previous elections, securing the votes of nationalists who advocated strong military action against separatist Tamil rebels who were eventually crushed in May 2009.

However, the JHU as well as some of Rajapakse's other coalition partners have criticized the government's failure to ensure the independence of the judiciary and restore rule of law and end corruption.