Ex-defence chief storms to victory in Sri Lanka
THE FAVOURITE: The elections commission said opposition candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa had received 52.25pc of the vote
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s former defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa was officially declared the winner on Sunday of the country’s first presidential election since the South Asian island was rocked by Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 200 people.
The elections commission said opposition candidate Rajapaksa had received 52.25 per cent of the vote, 6.9 million votes, while his main rival, ruling party candidate Sajith Premadasa and leader of the New
Democratic Front alliance, received 41.99 per cent.
“I will ensure that all my pledges in my manifesto will be implemented,” Rajapaksa said upon being announced as the winner.
Rajapaksa, now due to be sworn in as president on Monday, recorded a comfortable victory with a majority of more than 1.3 million votes in the country’s presidential polls, according to election results.
Both of the two favourites to win had focussed their campaigns on the theme of security in the wake of this year’s Easter Sunday bombings by extremist groups that left the entire nation shaken.
A few sporadic incidents of violence and violations of laws were reported during the vote, but none of them had a significant impact on the poll, the chairman of the Elections Commission said.
Rajapaksa called on his supporters to celebrate the victory in a peaceful manner.
“As we usher in a new journey for
Sri Lanka, we must remember that all Sri Lankans are part of this journey. Let us rejoice peacefully, with dignity and discipline,” Rajapaksa said on Twitter.
Ruling party candidate Sajith Premadasa conceded defeat before the final results was announced, party officials said.
The turnout among the 15.9 million registered voters was at a record 84 per cent.
With the defeat of Premadasa, three of his cabinet ministers in the ruling United National Party (UNP) government have quit their positions.
They include Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera.