Mahinda Rajapaksa seeks court opinion for third term in office

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sought Supreme Court's opinion on his eligibility to contest for a record third term in office by holding a snap presidential election.

Rajapaksa, in a letter, has asked the apex court to provide a determination on or before November 10 on whether there is any impediment to him being elected for a further term in office, Sri Lankan media reported today.

Rajapaksa is expected to announce his intention to hold the election a year before the schedule in January next year.

The proclamation may be issued after November 18 when he would complete four years in office.

The Supreme Court opinion will be keenly awaited as opposition campaign has already gone underway.

The opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna ( JVP) based on the opinion of a former chief justice has dubbed Rajapaksa's third term attempt as illegal.

Rajapaksa is keen to hold the snap election to minimise the effect of anti-incumbency and to gain advantage over the fragmented opposition.