Occult Politics

February, 17 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's is supposedly a vibrant democracy with its political destiny decided by a population that got universal suffrage in 1931, but the island's leaders seem to believe their future is controlled by sublime forces of the occult. Sri Lanka's former foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera newly-sacked from the government, is said to have a 'powerful' horoscope or astrological chart, which may have played a part in his estrangement with his Sri Lanka Freedom party leader and Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Birth chart

"What can I do if I have a powerful horoscope?" Samaraweera asked a packed news conference attended by more than a 100 media persons this week.

In a letter written to Rajapakse, Samaraweera said he did not believe in astrology.

"I am well aware that you are a great believer in astrology, talismans and the occult," Samaraweera wrote.

"It seems that several others, who know of this as well, have been insinuating that I am a grave threat to you as I too have a strong horoscope. I am completely unaware of what my horoscope states and do not have any faith in it.

"I wonder if the lies spread by these conspirators to gain your trust have also been instrumental in me being dismi