Sri Lanka parties vie for president's post as protesters reject all contenders

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The six-time prime minister is seen as an ally of Mr Rajapaksa and analysts say his election as president could lead to further unrest.

Mr Wickremesinghe's unpopularity soared after he declared a state of emergency late on Sunday "in the interests of public security".But with ruling party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna announcing that it would back Mr Wickremesinghe as president, the very leader protesters despise has become the top contender.

Mr Wickremesinghe is not an SLPP member but the leader of its once-rival United National Party. He was appointed prime minister in May, replacing Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa who had resigned under pressure from protesters. Opposition leaders back Mr Sajith Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya , the biggest opposition party with around 50 seats in Parliament.The son of an assassinated president, Mr Premadasa said on Sunday that he was"campaigning hard to try and persuade the MPs opposed to us to vote with us" by explaining to them"the futility of continuing to support Rajapaksa's corrupt and crony politics".

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka, an influential lawyers' group, criticised the imposition of a state of emergency during the Parliament's vote for president, urging that it"must not be used to suppress any legitimate expressions of opinion or suppress dissent".

 

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