Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday said that he had signed the nomination papers to contest the upcoming general elections from Kurunegala District.

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday said that he had signed the nomination papers to contest the upcoming general elections from Kurunegala District. Rajapaksa further said that his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, a newly formed party that backed country's President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa during the mid-November presidential elections in 2019 will form a strong government and action the party's manifesto for a better future for all Sri Lankan’s. ''Signed nomination papers to contest upcoming General Elections from #Kurunegala District. The #SLPP is committed to conducting an environmental friendly and clean campaign. We will form a strong government and action the #SLPP manifesto for a better future for all Sri Lankan’s,'' Rajapaksa tweeted today. Signed nomination papers to contest upcoming General Elections from #Kurunegala District. The #SLPP is committed to conducting an environmental friendly and clean campaign. We will form a strong government and action the #SLPP manifesto for a better future for all Sri Lankan’s. — Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) March 11, 2020 × The island nation's President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa dissolved the Parliament on March 3, paving the way for snap elections in the country months ahead of the schedule. President Rajapaksa in December named his elder brother and former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime minister of the caretaker cabinet until the general election in August 2020. The current parliament was appointed on September 1, 2015. The Lankan president had earlier said he wanted two-thirds parliamentary strength- 150 seats in the 225-member assembly. Among the Rajapaksa reforms post election are the abolition of 19A.

Sri Lanka elections: PM Mahinda Rajapaksa signs nomination papers to contest polls 

China has welcomed Sri Lanka's clarification with regard to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sri-lanka/hambantota-ports-security-not-in-foreign-hands-sri-lankan-pm-ranil-wickremesinghe-208642">Hambantota Port </a>agreement.

The Chinese embassy released a statement saying that it appreciates President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s remarks at a meeting with foreign correspondents.&nbsp;

“China is willing to guide relevant enterprises to work with the Sri Lankan side to expedite implementing the established agreement and further promote the prosperity and development of Hambantota Port,” it said.&nbsp;

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had earlier stated that his government will not re-negotiate the existing agreement with China and the commercial agreement.

China in its statement also reiterated it respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

PM Mahida Rajapaksa while speaking to China's state media had expressed confidence in Sri Lanka's ability to repay the loans for the Hambantota Port. Mahinda&nbsp;Rajapaksa had also added that Sri Lanka and China will implement big projects like the Hambantota Port and the Colombo Port City.

Reacting to the development, the Chinese embassy added that the security and control of Hambantota Port will entirely be in the hands of the Sri Lankan government and Navy, just like all other ports in the island nation.&nbsp;

The southern sea port was leased to China in 2017 by Sri Lanka for 99 years amid concern over Beijing's efforts to expand influence in the region.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his visit to India had said Sri Lanka wants to work very closely with both India and China.

The Hambantota port was a major Chinese-assisted infrastructure project in the home district of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa which attracted controversy as experts saw it as China's attempt to increase its military might in the Indian Ocean region with fears of Chinese government using it as part of its Belt and Road initiative(BRI).

China has repeatedly dismissed reports of military dimension in the port deal.

Last year a Bloomberg report had said Hambantota is only handling about one ship a day, and when compared to competitors in Singapore, Malaysia and the Middle East, it isn't at present a viable operation.

China has welcomed Sri Lanka's clarification with regard to the Hambantota Port agreement. The Chinese embassy released a statement saying that it appreciates President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s remarks at a meeting with foreign correspondents.

China has welcomed Sri Lanka's clarification with regard to the Hambantota Port agreement. The Chinese embassy released a statement saying that it appreciates President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s remarks at a meeting with foreign correspondents. “China is willing to guide relevant enterprises to work with the Sri Lankan side to expedite implementing the established agreement and further promote the prosperity and development of Hambantota Port,” it said. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had earlier stated that his government will not re-negotiate the existing agreement with China and the commercial agreement. China in its statement also reiterated it respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. PM Mahida Rajapaksa while speaking to China's state media had expressed confidence in Sri Lanka's ability to repay the loans for the Hambantota Port. Mahinda Rajapaksa had also added that Sri Lanka and China will implement big projects like the Hambantota Port and the Colombo Port City. Reacting to the development, the Chinese embassy added that the security and control of Hambantota Port will entirely be in the hands of the Sri Lankan government and Navy, just like all other ports in the island nation. The southern sea port was leased to China in 2017 by Sri Lanka for 99 years amid concern over Beijing's efforts to expand influence in the region. Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his visit to India had said Sri Lanka wants to work very closely with both India and China. The Hambantota port was a major Chinese-assisted infrastructure project in the home district of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa which attracted controversy as experts saw it as China's attempt to increase its military might in the Indian Ocean region with fears of Chinese government using it as part of its Belt and Road initiative(BRI). China has repeatedly dismissed reports of military dimension in the port deal. Last year a Bloomberg report had said Hambantota is only handling about one ship a day, and when compared to competitors in Singapore, Malaysia and the Middle East, it isn't at present a viable operation.

Willing to work with Sri Lanka to promote development of Hambantota Port: China

Sri Lanka's new president named his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa for the post of prime ministership, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Fineprint: Sri Lanka PM announces resignation

Police stepped up security across Sri Lanka on Wednesday over fears of violence on the final day of campaigning for the fiercely contested presidential election, officials said.

Elite police commandos reinforced police as the two frontrunners in Saturday's vote Sajith Premadasa and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa held rival rallies in and around Colombo.

"There are reports of possible violence," a senior police official told AFP. "Additional strength has been deployed in vulnerable areas. Sniffer dogs and explosive detectors will also be used at final rallies."

Premadasa, 52, is the son of assassinated president Ranasinghe Premadasa who was targeted by a suicide bomber during a May Day rally in Colombo in 1993.

Rajapaksa, brother of former strongman president Mahinda Rajapaksa, narrowly escaped a suicide bomb attack in 2006 blamed on Tamil Tiger separatist rebels.

While ethnic tensions have eased, this year the country was rocked by coordinated Islamist extremist bombings on Easter Sunday that killed at least 269 people.

During the election campaign, there were no further such attacks but the independent Election Commission said there were nearly 30 incidents of violence involving members of rival parties.

Private poll monitor, the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said it was peaceful compared to the 2015 election when there were more bomb attacks and shootings.

However, PAFFREL chief Rohana Hettiarachchi told AFP there were more incidents of hate speech, disinformation and intimidation on social media as well as radio and television.

"We noticed a trend of using social media to issue threats against political opponents," Hettiarachchi said.

Campaigning should stop at midnight Wednesday (1830 GMT) allowing a two-day cooling-off period before Saturday's ballot, with results expected on Sunday.

Some 16 million people over the age of 18 years are eligible to choose a winner from among a record 35 candidates who include two Buddhist monks and just one woman.

The European Union on Wednesday despatched 30 additional election observers around the country, joining 50 who have been in Sri Lanka for a month following the campaign.

Rights record

A possible Gotabhaya Rajapaksa victory has raised concerns abroad about human rights and a renewed pivot of the strategically located nation towards China.

Mahinda and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa are beloved among the majority Sinhalese community for crushing the Tamil Tigers to end Sri Lanka's 37-year civil war in 2009.

The final months of the conflict -- when Gotabhaya effectively ran the security forces -- however allegedly saw some 40,000 Tamil civilians killed.

He is also accused of -- and denies -- running a "death squad" that allegedly abducted and murdered not only Tamils but also political opponents and journalists after the war ended.&nbsp;

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in the "dark decade" of Mahinda's rule, at least 14 journalists "were murdered in connection with their work".

His government also presided over a ballooning of Sri Lanka's debts as it borrowed heavily from China for a string of infrastructure projects, many of which are mired in graft allegations.

In what for critics is the biggest example of the pitfalls of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in 2017 Sri Lanka gave Beijing a 99-year lease on a port after being unable to service Chinese loans to build it.

In 2014, two Chinese submarines docked in Colombo, alarming Western countries -- as well as India -- worried by Beijing's growing regional importance and assertiveness.

China offered Sri Lanka "international diplomatic protection as well as the funds for development," analyst Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu told AFP.

The Rajapakas "spent and spent without giving any consideration to how it has to be paid back."

Basil Rajapaksa, another brother, said on Wednesday that if Gotabhaya wins Sri Lanka "will work with everybody" on securing investment.

Regarding human rights concerns, Western capitals "should give a fair chance to us," he told reporters. "They can't be monitors of this country, they must be partners."

Police stepped up security across Sri Lanka on Wednesday over fears of violence on the final day of campaigning for the fiercely contested presidential election, officials said.

Police stepped up security across Sri Lanka on Wednesday over fears of violence on the final day of campaigning for the fiercely contested presidential election, officials said. Elite police commandos reinforced police as the two frontrunners in Saturday's vote Sajith Premadasa and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa held rival rallies in and around Colombo. "There are reports of possible violence," a senior police official told AFP. "Additional strength has been deployed in vulnerable areas. Sniffer dogs and explosive detectors will also be used at final rallies." Premadasa, 52, is the son of assassinated president Ranasinghe Premadasa who was targeted by a suicide bomber during a May Day rally in Colombo in 1993. Rajapaksa, brother of former strongman president Mahinda Rajapaksa, narrowly escaped a suicide bomb attack in 2006 blamed on Tamil Tiger separatist rebels. While ethnic tensions have eased, this year the country was rocked by coordinated Islamist extremist bombings on Easter Sunday that killed at least 269 people. During the election campaign, there were no further such attacks but the independent Election Commission said there were nearly 30 incidents of violence involving members of rival parties. Private poll monitor, the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said it was peaceful compared to the 2015 election when there were more bomb attacks and shootings. However, PAFFREL chief Rohana Hettiarachchi told AFP there were more incidents of hate speech, disinformation and intimidation on social media as well as radio and television. "We noticed a trend of using social media to issue threats against political opponents," Hettiarachchi said. Campaigning should stop at midnight Wednesday (1830 GMT) allowing a two-day cooling-off period before Saturday's ballot, with results expected on Sunday. Some 16 million people over the age of 18 years are eligible to choose a winner from among a record 35 candidates who include two Buddhist monks and just one woman. The European Union on Wednesday despatched 30 additional election observers around the country, joining 50 who have been in Sri Lanka for a month following the campaign. Rights record A possible Gotabhaya Rajapaksa victory has raised concerns abroad about human rights and a renewed pivot of the strategically located nation towards China. Mahinda and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa are beloved among the majority Sinhalese community for crushing the Tamil Tigers to end Sri Lanka's 37-year civil war in 2009. The final months of the conflict -- when Gotabhaya effectively ran the security forces -- however allegedly saw some 40,000 Tamil civilians killed. He is also accused of -- and denies -- running a "death squad" that allegedly abducted and murdered not only Tamils but also political opponents and journalists after the war ended. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in the "dark decade" of Mahinda's rule, at least 14 journalists "were murdered in connection with their work". His government also presided over a ballooning of Sri Lanka's debts as it borrowed heavily from China for a string of infrastructure projects, many of which are mired in graft allegations. In what for critics is the biggest example of the pitfalls of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in 2017 Sri Lanka gave Beijing a 99-year lease on a port after being unable to service Chinese loans to build it. In 2014, two Chinese submarines docked in Colombo, alarming Western countries -- as well as India -- worried by Beijing's growing regional importance and assertiveness. China offered Sri Lanka "international diplomatic protection as well as the funds for development," analyst Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu told AFP. The Rajapakas "spent and spent without giving any consideration to how it has to be paid back." Basil Rajapaksa, another brother, said on Wednesday that if Gotabhaya wins Sri Lanka "will work with everybody" on securing investment. Regarding human rights concerns, Western capitals "should give a fair chance to us," he told reporters. "They can't be monitors of this country, they must be partners."

Sri Lanka steps up security for final vote rallies