Sri Lankan leader regains election momentum after high profile defections from opposition
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In this Wednesday, Dec.10, 2014 photo, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, right, offers prayers at the Tirumala Venkateswara Hindu Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh state, India.(AP Photo/Press Trust of India) INDIA OUT (The Associated Press)
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has regained momentum in his bid for a third term with another leading politician abandoning the opposition to join his campaign.
Udaya Gammanpila, a top official from the Buddhist nationalist National Heritage Party, defected from the opposition Thursday. He is the third leading politician to leave the opposition to support Rajapaksa in the Jan. 8 election.
Rajapaksa faces his former health minister and ruling party No. 2 Maithripala Sirisena. Sirisena led a revolt in Rajapaksa's ruling coalition, taking with him 11 ministers and lawmakers.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Now it seems Rajapaksa has now managed to reverse some of the damage.
He called the elections two years early to seek a fresh mandate amid accusations of nepotism. His administration also faces a U.N. inquiry into alleged war crimes.