Mahinda, from Hambantota, represents the rural south, the Buddhist provincial bourgeoisie, rather than the urban elite.

ECONOMIST: Sri Lanka

In November he officiated with his father at the opening of a large, Chinese-built harbour in Hambantota.

ECONOMIST: Sri Lanka: The son also rises | The

Now young Mr Rajapaksa, charming, London-educated and fond of rugby, is leading a bid for Hambantota to host the 2018 Commonwealth games.

ECONOMIST: Sri Lanka: The son also rises | The

By the same token, equatorial ports that have grown along the route in Singapore and Malaysia, and Hambantota in Sri Lanka might worry about their futures.

ECONOMIST: Banyan

In both R Premadasa Stadium and Hambantota International Stadium, the pitch is ready, wicket is ready, grandstand is in very good condition and media room is ready.

BBC: Cricket World Cup: ICC admits Sri Lanka venues delay

The rearranged matches were initially set to be played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota and R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo, on 3 and 6 February.

BBC: Cricket World Cup: ICC admits Sri Lanka venues delay

They include a new sea port at Hambantota, in the president's constituency in the south, an oil-storage facility, a new airport, a coal-fired power plant and an expressway.

ECONOMIST: Brotherly love, massive aid and no questions asked

Last month he dispensed the man-of-the-match award at Sri Lanka's opening game of the cricket world cup, which took place in a newly built stadium in by happy coincidence his own constituency, Hambantota, in the south of the country.

ECONOMIST: Sri Lanka: The son also rises | The

With five of the 13 venues requiring a final inspection by World Cup tournament director Professor Ratnakar Shetty and the central organising committee (COC), the ICC's report approved Mumbai and the Sri Lankan venues - Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium, Hambantota and Pallekele - subject to minor finishing work to be completed within 14 days.

BBC: Cricket World Cup: Kolkata not ready for India-England