Rajapakse is yet to prove himself

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's call for early elections may be a bid to cash in on his government's soaring popularity ratings, but in a wider context his United People's Freedom Alliance party still has a few promises to keep.

Sri Lanka's ethnic minorities have reason to be doubtful of the government and the new challenge posed to it by a coalition of opposition parties led by former army chief Sarath Fonseka. The latter had successfully orchestrated the offensive against the LTTE, but later accused the government of sidelining him after the war.

Rajapakse has also been accused of releasing Tamil war refugees from camps without paying attention to a proper resettlement programme. These minorities are now left to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. There are suspicions that the Tamils, who make up 12 per cent of Sri Lanka's population, will field their own candidate, thereby casting fresh doubts on the government's commitment towards minorities.