COLOMBO: Sri Lankans are heading to the polls to vote for a new president on Saturday.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a candidate for the president, had played a crucial role in crushing Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), widely known as the Tamil Tigers, as he held the position of Defense Secretary then.

Several Sinhalese believe Rajapaksa as the country’s savior.

However, for Sri Lanka’s minorities, Rajapaksa is a ‘fear’ word as relatives of the ethnic minority Tamils who were killed or disappeared during the decades-long conflict accuse him of war crimes.

Even the minority Muslims fear that Rajapaksa’s association with Buddhist hardliners will be unfortunate.

These Buddhist groups such as Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) have encouraged the Sinhalese to boycott Muslim-owned businesses.

Meanwhile, Gotabaya, who is the opposition candidate for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Party (SLPP), needs the votes of the minorities to win Saturday’s election.

Gotabaya is also the brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who ruled Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015.

Sajith Premadasa, the incumbent minister for housing and a leader of the ruling United National Party (UNP), is the contender of Gotabaya.

Meanwhile, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which represents the Tamils, has announced its endorsement of Premadasa last week.

However, Tamils are worried about the government’s lack of action on investigating alleged war crimes.

Sri Lanka’s civil war ended in May 2009. (Agencies)