Sri Lankan minister to challenge Rajapaksa in presidential poll

Reuters

Published Nov 21, 2014 05:26AM ET

Sri Lankan minister to challenge Rajapaksa in presidential poll

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan Health Minister Mithripala Sirisena on Friday resigned from the government and said he would run as a common opposition candidate against President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a snap election due in January.

"I am thankful for being selected as the common candidate. I will abolish the executive presidency in 100 days," Sirisena told reporters in Colombo.