Sri Lankan President Seeks Third Term in Close Election

Millions of Sri Lankans are voting in an unexpectedly close election that pits President Mahinda Rajapaksa against one of his former allies. Rajapaksa, in office since 2005, called the election two years early with analysts predicting an easy win. Although his popularity has waned, Rajapaksa was confident that the perennially fractured opposition would fail to find a credible challenger. He did not anticipate the emergence of Mithripala Sirisena, who quit as health minister and...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - jeudi 8 janvier 2015