Kurunegala district UPFA candidate and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sent a letter to President and SLFP Chairman Maithripala Sirisena this morning (14).

Sri Lanka’s government has been reaching out to the country’s influential Tamil diaspora with the aim of building minority support and boosting its international standing. But the contentious strategy holds risks for the government’s survival ahead of parliamentary elections next week.

Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans scored an important victory on January 8th. That revolution saved the country from the Rajapaksas’ corrupt and lawless regime. Jungle law was replaced by the rule of law, the media was freed and the abuse of power brought to an end. This election itself is an example of that change: it is the first truly free, fair and lawful election in many years if not decades. 

Sri Lankan security forces have continued to torture Tamil detainees even after the election of reformist president Maithripala Sirisena in January, according to a report.