Tags
Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapakse (L) and his wife Shiranthi Rajapakse (R) attend a rally at the Medamulana Residency in Viraketiya some 210 kms from Colombo. AFP
Reuters/Medamulana, Sri Lanka
Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa said he would run for prime minister during next month's parliamentary elections, a move that is likely to infuriate rights groups as he is accused of war crimes in a civil war.
"I accept the request to contest the election," Rajapaksa said on Wednesday, referring to the Aug. 17 parliamentary polls when the island nation is set to choose its prime minister.
President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also the leader of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), has rejected Rajapaksa's demand to name him as the prime ministerial candidate in the party, which Rajapaksa led for 10 years until his election defeat this year.
Rajapaksa did not specify the party under which he would contest, but his supporters told Reuters that he would form a new coalition if Sirisena does not relent.
There are no comments.
SPORT Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.
TECHNOLOGY Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education
CULTURE Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions
ARABIA The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged
ARABIA Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.
ARABIA The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.
ECONOMY Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.
