Rajapaksa claims easy victory in general elections

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday claimed that his coalition will form a "stable government" after the April 8 Sri Lankan parliamentary polls, in which an opposition party has fielded ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday claimed that his coalition will form a "stable government" after the April 8 Sri Lankan parliamentary polls, in which an opposition party has fielded ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka.

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Addressing his party candidates, Rajapaksa reminded them that the people had kept faith with the United People Freedom Alliance on a continued basis since 1994.

"We never subjugated the path of democracy. We did not believe in alternative routes and did not mislead the people by holding bogus referendums. This is why the people trusted us and continues to trust us. You should ensuere its continuity," the state-owned Daily News quoted him as saying.

"In line with people's expectations, the UPFA will form a stable government after the Parliamentary elections," Rajapaksa said. Campaigning has already begun for the crucial polls, which are being held more than two months after the January 26

Presidential election in which incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa defeated Fonseka, who was the candidate of the joint opposition.

Fonseka on February 26 filed nomination papers as a candidate of a new opposition alliance for the April 8 Parliamentary poll, which is set to witness a three-cornered fight also involving the ruling UPFA and former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe's UNF.