Ex-Defence Chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins Sri Lanka presidential poll
Colombo: Sri Lanka’s former Defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Sunday won the Presidential election, according to the preliminary results from the country’s Election Commission.
The former defence chief has won with over 51 per cent of the vote.
අද ම෠දකින්නට පà·à¶¸à·’ණි ඔබ à·ƒà·à¶¸à¶œà·š උද්යà·à¶œà¶º සහ ආදරය, අපට එක්ව මේ රට ගොඩනà·à¶Ÿà·’ය à·„à·à¶šà·’ බවට සුභ ලකුණකි..! pic.twitter.com/vye7XsoeN6
— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) November 17, 2019
Though the final official results are yet to be announced, reports said that Rajapaksa's main rival Sajith Premadasa, son of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa, has conceded his defeat.
He has stepped down from this housing minister post.
Taking to social networking site, Twitter, Mr Premadasa wrote, "It is my privilege to honour the people's decision and congratulate Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his election. I am grateful to our citizens who voted for me."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Sri Lanka’s former Defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his win in the presidential elections of the country.
"Congratulations Gotabaya Rajapaksa on your victory in the Presidential elections. I look forward to working closely with you for deepening the close and fraternal ties between our two countries and citizens, and for peace, prosperity as well as security in our region," PM Modi tweeted, in response to which the new President elect thanked him.
I thank Prime Minister @narendramodi and the people of India for your warm wishes. Our two nations are bound by history and common beliefs and I look forward to strengthening our friendship and meeting you in the near future https://t.co/WZkLWc3MFS
— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) November 17, 2019
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