बर्ह barha Nordic Asia Research Community.

Presidential elections, parliamentary Elections, opposition presidential candidate arrested, president extends his presidential periode, takes over ministry of information and communication. Some how all seen before including the reaction of the Western powers.

President Rajapakse did deliever on his promise of ending the conflict with the Tamils. So far he has not delievered on a sustainable, longlasting solution that will make future uprisings hard to imagine. The LTTE may be eradicated for the time being, but LTTE´s financial base is still  expected to be intact. It can be activated at a later stage. That is why it is crusial for Rajapakse to deliever en solution that will make it hard for any future insurgents to gain a following

It seems as if the plan calling an early, but not that early, parliamentary election, the parliament was to be dissolved not later than the 26th of April this year, is  twofold:to gain a twothirds majority and turn the newly elected parliament int a constitutional assembly and implement the 17th ammendment with ammendments. And to consolidate Rajakas

So far nobody except for the defeated candidate has questioned the outcome of the presidential election. It is aggreed that the run up to the election was not flawless, no major problems concerning counting ballots etc.

Rajapakse can be critizised for consolidating his and his family`s power by extending his presidential periode, but he did follow the procedures relation to applications for extension. CBK was not allowed to extend her presidential periode.

Time will show if it is correct that  the defeated presidential candidate in fact had plans, credible to an extend to have him arrested. Coup attempts are rare in Sri Lanka, but the military was the major agent in the 1962 attempt. Given Sri Lankas human rights record and the political use/abuse of the legal system worries  about the fairness of the trial are justified.

The president taking over the Ministry of Information and Communication is another classic: CBK did it in November 2003

The Western reaction and lack of action is to be expected: Sri Lanka is in the interst spehre of India, and is not of major importance for western interests in the region. Which gives who ever is in power in Sri Lanka a certain freedom to do as it pleases him/her. Known by all playes in the political game."