Buoyed by his party’s victory at the local government elections this week, former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for fresh parliamentary elections stating that people had “voted against the division of the country”.
“These results show people want a change now,” said Mr Rajapaksa, after his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) won control of 231 local councils out of a total of 340.
"People have given a clear message: This government has no mandate ... and no moral right to continue."
Mr Rajapaksa went on to state that the polls this weekend were a referendum on the current government’s reform agenda and plans for a new constitution.
"People voted against the division of the country," he concluded.
His party won a massive majority at the polls, with the United National Party (UNP) led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe coming second with only 34 councils.
