General Election first to change Constitution

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has, The Island learns, told a group of his confidants that he intends to hold, after bagging the Southern Provincial Council at today’s polls, a general election, where he will seek a two-third majority to change the Constitution.

"I have two more years left in office and I can either complete the full term or cut it short and return to Parliament," sources quoted President Rajapaksa as telling his close allies on Thursday.

Earlier, the government had decided to go for a presidential election after the SPC polls and to hold a general election subsequently.

The Opposition is in the process of forming an alliance to face a presidential election expected early next year.

Sources said all those present at the meeting had subscribed to the President’s idea and it had been decided to consult other high-ranking party leaders on the matter.

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