In a significant move, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has indicated the possibility of an early Presidential Election, even by January, 2015.

He has indicated this possibility yesterday (10) in an interview with The Hindu.

When asked about the reports that he is planning early elections, possibly in January 2015, Rajapaksa has stated: “They could be. I am not ruling that out.”

Although there have been reports of the possibility of an early presidential election, this is the first time that President Rajapaksa in person has commented this to the media.

The topic of an early presidential election has however created much debate which sometimes overshadowed the currently ongoing Uva Provincial Council Elections. Both Mahinda Rajapaksa and UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe have more or less started the presidential election campaign while there is a significant pressure from the opposition to find a common candidate.

Meanwhile, former Chief Justice Sarath N Silva has suggested that the President is ineligible to run for a third term.

Earlier reports had suggested that the government would consider the outcome of Uva Provincial Election to decide when to hold the presidential polls. Some reports had also claimed that the government is planning to hold the election before the visit of the Pope, which is due in mid-January.