COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Thursday he would seek an unprecedented third term as president, prompting one of his lawmakers to join the opposition with a call to curb the presidency’s “draconian powers”.

Rajapaksa, 69, came to power in 2005 and won a second six-year term in 2010 on a wave of popularity after the military defeated Tamil Tiger separatists, ending a 26-year civil war.

His poll ratings have fallen sharply since, however, and critics, including his coalition partners, say Sri Lanka’s “executive presidency” — introduced by a 1978 constitution — gives him and his family too much power.

“I am declaring a secret today. I have signed the proclamation calling for the election, for re-election for the third time ... That is democracy,” Rajapaksa said, addressing a gathering shown on state television. An Election Commission official said the poll would be held in early January.

Hours after the announcement, ruling party legislator Wasantha Senanayake defected to the main opposition party, saying he wanted to “change the draconian powers of the executive presidency and bring good governance”.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2014