2015 Sri Lankan presidential election
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Turnout | 81.52% (7.02pp) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Results by polling division | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Presidential elections were held in
Sirisena was declared the winner, receiving 51.28% of all votes cast compared to Rajapaksa's 47.58%.[7][8] The result was generally seen as a major upset;[9][10][11] when Rajapaksa called the election in November 2014 he had looked certain to win.[12][13][14] On 11 January 2015, the new government announced a special investigation into allegations of an attempted coup by Rajapaksa.[15]
Timeline
- 2014
- 20 October: Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella confirmed that the election would be held in January 2015.[16]
- 5 November: Rajapaksa sought the Supreme Court's opinion on whether he could stand for re-election.[17]
- 20 November: Rajapaksa issued a proclamation calling for a presidential election at which he would seek re-election.[18]
- 21 November: Sri Lanka Freedom Party general secretary Maithripala Sirisena defects to the opposition and announces he would run against Mahinda Rajapaksa in the coming election. Election commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya announces that nominations would be taken on 8 December 2014 and that the election would be held on 8 January 2015.[19]
- 8 December: Nominations period opens by the Elections Department on 8 December 2014, all of which were accepted.[20]
- 23–24 December: Postal voting held begins for two days.[21][22]
- 2015
- 8 January: Election day. Polling stations opened at 07:00 (01:30 UTC) and closed at 16:00 (10:30 UTC).[23][24][25][26]
- 9 January: Rajapaksa concedes defeat ahead of the final result
- 9 January: At 12:00 (6:30 UTC), Election commissioner confirmed Maithripala Sirisena as the new elected president.[27]
- 9 January: Maithripala Sirsena is sworn in as Sri Lanka's sixth executive president, and seventh overall, before Supreme Court judge
Background
According to the constitution, the normal term of office for a president is six years, although an incumbent serving a second term may call an election at any time after four years in office.[30] In November 2009, buoyed by the government's defeat of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May 2009, incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa called an early presidential election.[31] In the elections held in January 2010 Rajapaksa secured a second term in office, defeating common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka.[32][33] In February 2010 the Supreme Court ruled that Rajapaksa's second term would begin in November 2010, and was accordingly sworn in on 19 November 2010.[34][35][36]
In September 2010 Parliament, which was controlled by Rajapaksa's UPFA, passed the eighteenth amendment to the constitution, removing the two term limit on presidents, allowing Rajapaksa to run for a third term.[37]
There was speculation in mid-2014 that Rajapaksa would call another early presidential election: on 20 October 2014 Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella confirmed that the election would be held in January 2015.[16][38] Critics of Rajapaksa, including the Bar Association and former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, claimed that he could not stand for re-election as he had won his second term before the eighteenth amendment to the constitution had been passed.[39][40][41] In early November 2014 Rajapaksa sought the Supreme Court's opinion on whether he could stand for re-election.[17][42] The court ruled that Rajapaksa could stand for re-election.[43][44] The independence of the Supreme Court has been questioned since the UPFA impeached former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, allowing Rajapaksa to appoint an ally and legal adviser, former Attorney General Mohan Peiris, as Chief Justice.[45][46][47]
On 20 November 2014 Rajapaksa issued a proclamation calling for a presidential election at which he would seek re-election.[18][48][49] The following day election commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya announced that nominations would be taken on 8 December 2014 and that the election would be held on 8 January 2015.[19][50]
15,044,490 Sri Lankans were eligible to vote at the election.[51][52] Postal voting was held on 23 and 24 December 2014.[21][22] Foreign monitors were invited to observe the election but not from the United Nations.[53]
Electoral system
The Sri Lankan president is elected using a form of instant-runoff voting. Voters can rank up to three candidates, and if no candidate wins a majority in the first round of voting, second and third preferences from ballots whose first preference candidate has been eliminated are used to determine the winner.[54] There are 12,314 polling stations in the 22 electoral districts.[55]
Concurrent events
- Papal visit
The election had caused uncertainty over the planned visit of
- 2014–15 floods
In the last two weeks of December 2014 central, eastern and northern Sri Lanka were hit by the worst floods since 1956, resulting in several deaths and the displacement of over one million people.[64][65] Some local election monitoring groups have expressed concern that the displaced may not be able to vote at the election.[66] The Election Commissioner has however said that no candidate, their representative or lawyers had complained and that there was no reason to postpone the election.[67][68]
Candidates
Nineteen nominations were received from by the Elections Department on 8 December 2014, all of which were accepted.[20][69] Seventeen candidates were from registered political parties and two were independents.[70]
Mahinda Rajapaksa
The incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa ran as the UPFA candidate, seeking an unprecedented third term.
However, the
Rajapaksa released his manifesto, titled Mahinda's Vision — The World Winning Path, on 23 December 2014 at the
Maithripala Sirisena
In the run up to the election being called several names had been suggested for nomination as the common opposition candidate: former president
Sirisena pledged to abolish the executive presidency within 100 days of being elected, repeal the controversial eighteenth amendment, re-instate the seventeenth amendment and appoint UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe as
Sirisena contested as a New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate under its swan symbol.[131][132] Common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka contested in the 2010 presidential election as a NDF candidate under its swan symbol.[133]
Sirisena released his manifesto, titled A Compassionate Maithri Governance — A Stable Country, on 19 December 2014 during a rally at
In a separate document, Sirisena has pledged that, whilst resisting any international investigation, he would establish an independent domestic inquiry into the alleged war crimes during the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War.[138][147]
Minor candidates
The remaining seventeen candidates are from minor political parties or independents.[148]
- Wimal Geeganage, Sri Lanka National Front[149]
- Aithurus M. Illias, Independent
- Siritunga Jayasuriya, United Socialist Party
- Jayantha Kulathunga, United Lanka Great Council[149]
- A. S. P. Liyanage, Sri Lanka Labour Party[149]
- Sundaram Mahendran, Nava Sama Samaja Party[149]
- Sarath Manamendra, New Sinhala Heritage (endorsed Rajapaksa on 30 December 2014)[150][151]
- Maulawi Ibrahim Mohanmed Mishlar, United Peace Front
- Duminda Nagamuwa, Frontline Socialist Party
- Ruwanthileke Peduru, United Lanka People's Party
- Anurudha Polgampola, Independent
- Prasanna Priyankara, Democratic National Movement
- Namal Ajith Rajapaksa, Our National Front
- Battaramulle Seelarathana, Jana Setha Peramuna
- Ratnayake Arachchige Sirisena, Patriotic National Front
- Muthu Bandara Theminimulla, All Are Citizens, All Are Kings Organisation
- Pani Wijesiriwardene, Socialist Equality Party
Many of the minor candidates were merely "dummy candidates" for the two main candidates, who were fielded by the main candidates to obtain the maximum benefits of being a candidate, such as free slots on state television, two agents at every polling booth and assigning counting agents.[152]
Conduct
The 2015 election, like past Sri Lankan elections, was characterized by violence, misuse of state resources and other violations of election laws.
By 31 December, 2014, the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) had reported 1,007 incidents of election law violations, 105 of which were related to violence, including 19 incidents involving firearms.[169] CaFFE berated the police for seemingly allowing government supporters to attack the opposition.[170] The People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) reported 730 cases of violations by 3 January 2015 including 197 incidents of violence.[171] The Center for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) had recorded 420 incidents between 20 November 2014 and 5 January 2015.[172] The police had received a total of 214 complaints by 2 January 2015 and arrested 92 people, whom were all subsequently released on bail.[173]
According to analysts and opposition parties, Rajapaksa was using the Sri Lankan military to depress opposition turnout, particularly amongst the Tamils in the north and east of the country.[174][175] On 4 January 2015, international election monitors reported that they had received complaints of voter intimidation and that the army had set up 400 roadblocks to prevent Tamils from voting.[176]
After voting had finished, election commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya declared the poll to be "peaceful" and the election to be "free and fair".[177] However, according to the CMEV, some voters in the north were prevented from voting.[178]
Election monitors
104 election monitors from the South Asian Election Monitoring Forum, South Asian Election Monitoring Association, Asian Election Monitoring Network and the Commonwealth arrived in Sri Lanka on 27 December 2014.[179] Monitors from the European Election Monitoring Association were also expected to be called upon.[180] The Election Commissioner offered six election monitoring groups the opportunity to monitor the count at only 300 of the 1,200 counting centres.[181][182]
After polling, Commonwealth observers said the election was not fully democratic due to the inadequate electoral and legal framework and the unequal pre-electoral environment.[183][184]
Violence
A Buddhist
On the morning of 17 December 2014 a stage that Sirisena had been intending to use for a rally at Wanduramba near
The UNP's headquarters Sirikotha was attacked on 24 December 2014 by members of the Patriotic National Front and the Federation of National Organizers (FNO) resulting in over 30 injuries on both sides.
The house in Beruwala that former president Chandrika Kumaratunga and provincial councillor Hirunika Premachandra, who had defected to support Sirisena, were dining in was stoned by UPFA supporters on 26 December 2014.[223] Later that night clashes broke in Beruwala out between UPFA and UNP supporters resulting in the Special Task Force being deployed in the town the following day.[224] Sirisena's election office in Irrakandi was attacked on the night of 27/28 December 2014.[225] On the night of 28 December 2014 Sirisena supporters were attacked following a rally at Nidangala near Mahiyangana, resulting in three injuries.[226][227] A group of artists distributing leaflets for the Sirisena in Kumbukgate near Kurunegala were attacked by UPFA supporters on 29 December 2014 as police officers looked on.[228][229] On 30 December 2014 clashes broke in Polonnaruwa between two groups Buddhist monks, one supporting Rajapaksa and the other Sirisena, during which an election monitor was attacked and threatened by supporters of Deputy Minister Siripala Gamalath.[230]
An opposition rally on 2 January 2015 in Pelmadulla was stoned by government supporters, seriously injuring at least 20, whilst Sirisena was addressing the rally.[231][232][233] Unidentified individuals fired shots at the house of UPFA provincial councillor Lakshman Wendaruwa, who had earlier pledged support for Sirisena, on the night of 2 January 2015, injuring a security guard.[234][235] As Sirisena was leaving a rally at Aralaganwila on 3 January 2015 a group of government supporters arrived in a jeep and fired shots at the rally, injuring a bystander and damaging vehicles.[236][237]
On 5 January 2015 three people setting up a stage for a Sirisena rally in Kahawatta were injured when unidentified people fired shots at them.[238] Arrest warrants were issued for three UPFA politicians, including deputy minister Premalal Jayasekara, in connection with the shooting.[239] One of the victims, Shantha Dodamgoda, succumbed to injuries and died on 7 January 2015.[240][241]
On election day, 8 January 2015, explosions were reported at three locations — Navaladi junction near Alvai, Nelukkulam Kalaimagal Maha Vidyalayam near Vavuniya and Beruwala.[242] Two women were assaulted by UPFA supporters, including deputy minister Sarana Gunawardena, in Yatiyana.[243]
Media abuse
On 22 November 2014, PEO TV internet protocol television network (IPTV) and Dialog TV satellite television network had reportedly blocked the Sirasa TV from broadcasting the Satana programme which interviewed the common opposition candidate Sirisena and several other members of opposition.[244] Tisara Samal Somaratne, a journalist for Hiru TV and Ada newspaper, was attacked by UPFA supporters in Eppawala on 5 December 2014 and later threatened by UPFA supporters whilst receiving hospital treatment.[245]
The 30 November 2014 edition of the Ravaya newspaper contained a story claiming that the State Intelligence Service had carried out a survey which showed that the opposition candidate would win the election by 59% to 41%.[246] The editor of the paper K. W. Janaranjana was later interrogated about the story by the Criminal Investigation Department.[247][248] According to Ravaya, newspaper distributors had been threatened not to sell the paper.[249][250]
On nomination day, 8 December 2014, all English and Sinhala language newspapers in the country carried a front-page promotion of Rajapaksa's war victory whilst Tamil language newspapers carried an advertisement showing Rajapaksa re-opening the
Naushad Amith, a journalist working for Wijeya Newspapers, was assaulted by government supporters in Maligawatta on 6 January 2015 as police officers stood by.[256][257]
Misuse of state resources
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has documented incidents of state employees, including those from
The UNP has alleged that employees of the state-owned
Government employees have been photographed by
The Sri Lankan government has denied that state resources are being used on the Rajapaksa campaign.[277][278]
Alleged role of R&AW
It was alleged by a Sri Lankan newspaper The Sunday Times, that Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing had a played in role in uniting the opposition, to bring about the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa. There had been growing concern in India on the increasing influence of its economic and military rival China in Sri Lankan affairs. Rajapaksa further upped the ante by allowing 2 Chinese submarines to dock in 2014, without informing India, in spite of a standstill agreement to this effect between India and Sri Lanka. The growing Chinese tilt of Rajapaksa was viewed by India with unease. Further, it was alleged that R&AW Chief of Station in Colombo helped co-ordination of talks within the opposition, and convinced former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe not to stand against Rajapaksa, but to choose a common opposition candidate, who had better chances of winning. The agent was also alleged to have been in touch with Chandrika Kumaratunga, who played a key role in convincing Maithripala Sirisena to be the common candidate. Further, it was alleged that the Rajapaksa government had expelled the involved R&AW Colombo station chief in the run-up to presidential election.[279][280][281][282][283][284]
Such allegations were denied by the Indian Government[285] and the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.[286]
Results
Sirsena was declared the winner after receiving 51.28% of all votes cast compared to Rajapaksa's 47.58%.[287][288] Approximately 58% of Sinhalese voters voted for Rajapaksa while 84% of minority voters voted for Sirisena.[289] Voter turnout was 81.52%, higher than any previous Sri Lankan presidential election and significantly higher than the 2010 presidential election.[290][291] Sirsena won 12 electoral districts whilst Rajapaksa won in the remaining 10.[292]
Rajapaksa had earlier conceded defeat after meeting Wickremesinghe and assured him of a smooth transition of power.[293][294] Rajapaksa then left his official residence, the Temple Trees.[295][296] He also vacated the President's House.[297]
Sirisena was sworn in as the sixth executive president of Sri Lanka before Supreme Court judge
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Maithripala Sirisena | New Democratic Front | 6,217,162 | 51.28 | |
Mahinda Rajapaksa | Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 5,768,090 | 47.58 | |
Ratnayake Arachchige Sirisena | Patriotic National Front | 18,174 | 0.15 | |
Namal Ajith Rajapaksa | Our National Front | 15,726 | 0.13 | |
Maulawi Ibrahim Mohanmed Mishlar | United Peace Front | 14,379 | 0.12 | |
A. S. P. Liyanage | Sri Lanka Labour Party | 14,351 | 0.12 | |
Ruwanthileke Peduru | United Lanka People's Party | 12,436 | 0.10 | |
Aithurus M. Illias | Independent | 10,618 | 0.09 | |
Duminda Nagamuwa | Frontline Socialist Party | 9,941 | 0.08 | |
Siritunga Jayasuriya | United Socialist Party | 8,840 | 0.07 | |
Sarath Manamendra | New Sinhala Heritage | 6,875 | 0.06 | |
Pani Wijesiriwardene | Socialist Equality Party | 4,277 | 0.04 | |
Anurudha Polgampola | Independent | 4,260 | 0.04 | |
Sundaram Mahendran | Nava Sama Samaja Party | 4,047 | 0.03 | |
Muthu Bandara Theminimulla | All Are Citizens, All Are Kings Organisation | 3,846 | 0.03 | |
Battaramulle Seelarathana | Jana Setha Peramuna | 3,750 | 0.03 | |
Prasanna Priyankara | Democratic National Movement | 2,793 | 0.02 | |
Jayantha Kulathunga | United Lanka Great Council | 2,061 | 0.02 | |
Wimal Geeganage | Sri Lanka National Front | 1,826 | 0.02 | |
Total | 12,123,452 | 100.00 | ||
Valid votes | 12,123,452 | 98.85 | ||
Invalid/blank votes | 140,925 | 1.15 | ||
Total votes | 12,264,377 | 100.00 | ||
Registered voters/turnout | 15,044,490 | 81.52 | ||
Source: Election Commission |
District
Districts won by Sirisena |
Districts won by Rajapaksa |
Electoral District |
Province | Rajapaksa | Sirisena | Others | Total Valid | Turnout | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
Anuradhapura | North Central | 281,161 | 53.59% | 238,407 | 45.44% | 5,065 | 0.97% | 524,633 | 100.00% | 83.10% |
Badulla | Uva | 249,243 | 49.15% | 249,524 | 49.21% | 8,303 | 1.64% | 507,070 | 100.00% | 82.99% |
Batticaloa | Eastern | 41,631 | 16.22% | 209,422 | 81.62% | 5,533 | 2.16% | 256,586 | 100.00% | 70.97% |
Colombo | Western | 562,614 | 43.40% | 725,073 | 55.93% | 8,673 | 0.67% | 1,296,360 | 100.00% | 82.67% |
Digamadulla |
Eastern | 121,027 | 33.82% | 233,360 | 65.22% | 3,430 | 0.96% | 357,817 | 100.00% | 77.39% |
Galle | Southern | 377,126 | 55.64% | 293,994 | 43.37% | 6,691 | 0.99% | 677,811 | 100.00% | 83.49% |
Gampaha | Western | 664,347 | 49.49% | 669,007 | 49.83% | 9,142 | 0.68% | 1,342,496 | 100.00% | 82.88% |
Hambantota | Southern | 243,295 | 63.02% | 138,708 | 35.93% | 4,073 | 1.05% | 386,076 | 100.00% | 84.13% |
Jaffna | Northern | 74,454 | 21.85% | 253,574 | 74.42% | 12,723 | 3.73% | 340,751 | 100.00% | 66.28% |
Kalutara | Western | 395,890 | 52.65% | 349,404 | 46.46% | 6,690 | 0.89% | 751,984 | 100.00% | 84.73% |
Kandy | Central | 378,585 | 44.23% | 466,994 | 54.56% | 10,329 | 1.21% | 855,908 | 100.00% | 82.63% |
Kegalle | Sabaragamuwa | 278,130 | 51.82% | 252,533 | 47.05% | 6,108 | 1.14% | 536,771 | 100.00% | 83.60% |
Kurunegala | North Western | 556,868 | 53.46% | 476,602 | 45.76% | 8,154 | 0.78% | 1,041,624 | 100.00% | 82.98% |
Matara | Southern | 297,823 | 57.81% | 212,435 | 41.24% | 4,892 | 0.95% | 515,150 | 100.00% | 83.36% |
Matale | Central | 158,880 | 51.41% | 145,928 | 47.22% | 4,214 | 1.36% | 309,022 | 100.00% | 82.35% |
Monaragala | Uva | 172,745 | 61.45% | 105,276 | 37.45% | 3,095 | 1.10% | 281,116 | 100.00% | 83.75% |
Nuwara Eliya | Central | 145,339 | 34.06% | 272,605 | 63.88% | 8,822 | 2.07% | 426,766 | 100.00% | 81.27% |
Polonnaruwa | North Central | 105,640 | 41.27% | 147,974 | 57.80% | 2,382 | 0.93% | 255,996 | 100.00% | 83.94% |
Puttalam | North Western | 197,751 | 48.97% | 202,073 | 50.04% | 4,026 | 1.00% | 403,850 | 100.00% | 73.81% |
Ratnapura | Sabaragamuwa | 379,053 | 55.74% | 292,514 | 43.01% | 8,517 | 1.25% | 680,084 | 100.00% | 84.90% |
Trincomalee | Eastern | 52,111 | 26.67% | 140,338 | 71.84% | 2,907 | 1.49% | 195,356 | 100.00% | 76.76% |
Vanni | Northern | 34,377 | 19.07% | 141,417 | 78.47% | 4,431 | 2.46% | 180,225 | 100.00% | 72.57% |
Total | 5,768,090 | 47.58% | 6,217,162 | 51.28% | 138,200 | 1.14% | 12,123,452 | 100.00% | 81.52% |
Maps
-
Winners of polling divisions
-
Majorities according to polling divisions
-
Majorities according to electoral districts
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Sri Lanka Presidential Election Results 2015
Aftermath
Attempted coup
According to Mangala Samaraweera and Rajitha Senaratne, senior figures in the Sirisena campaign, Rajapaksa attempted to stage a coup in order to stay in power when it became clear he was going to lose the election.[303][304] They claimed that Rajapaksa and his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, then-current Defense Secretary, summoned Commander of the Army Daya Ratnayake, Inspector General of Police N. K. Illangakoon and Attorney General Yuwanjana Wanasundera to the Temple Trees at around 1 am on 9 January 2015.[305] Rajapaksa allegedly pressured the three officials to deploy troops, annul the election results and declare a state of emergency, however, they refused.[306][307] According to the Colombo Telegraph, Rajapaksa also wished to dissolve parliament.[308] It was only then Rajapaksa decided to concede defeat and summoned Wickremesinghe to assure him of a smooth transition of power.[309]
A spokesman for Rajapaksa dismissed the allegations as baseless.[310][311] The army and police have also denied the allegations.[312] The Sirisena government subsequently investigated the alleged coup attempt.[15]
Departures and resignations
The new administration has said that a special unit will be established to investigate large scale corruption during the Rajapaksa regime.[328]
On 10 January 2015 minister Nimal Siripala de Silva announced that the UPFA would support Sirisena's 100-day programme unconditionally.[329][330] Addressing the nation from Temple of the Tooth the following day, Sirisena invited all political parties to join to form a national unity government.[331] Shortly afterwards a group of 21 SLFP MPs pledged their support for Sirisena.[332][333] According to Sirisena's team has enough support in parliament to secure a majority.[334]
International reaction
- Supranational bodies
- United Nations – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating the Sri Lankan people "on the successful conclusion of the presidential election", singling out the election commission for its "professionalism", saying that he looked forward to working with Sirisena but re-iterating his support for development, reconciliation, political dialogue and accountability.[335][336]
- European Union – Foreign Affairs High Representative Federica Mogherini issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating Sirisena, saying that the "EU looks forward to working with him to further develop its relations with Sri Lanka".[337][338]
- Nations
- Australia – Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop issued a statement on 10 January 2015 congratulating Sri Lankans on a peaceful and orderly election and pledging to support Sirisena as he implements democratic reform, good governance and anti-corruption measures.[339][340] Later Prime Minister Tony Abbott telephoned Sirisena to congratulate him and emphasising "continuing cooperation" between the countries on people smuggling.[341][342]
- China – At a regular press conference on 9 January 2015
- India – Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Sirisena after Rajapaksa had conceded defeat, congratulating Sirisena and the Sri Lankan people for the "peaceful and democratic poll process".[345][346]
- Japan – Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida issued a statement on 9 January 2015 welcoming the "peaceful and successful holding of the presidential election", congratulating Sirisena, saying that Japan hopes that "all parties concerned in Sri Lanka will work together to further promote national reconciliation, democracy and economic development".[347][348]
- Norway – Prime Minister Erna Solberg issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating the Sri Lankan people and Sirisena, saying that she looked forward to working with the new government to "promote a peaceful, inclusive and democratic Sri Lanka".[349][350]
- United Kingdom – Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also issued a statement commending the Sri Lanka people "on the successful completion of their elections" and congratulating Sirisena, saying he looked forward to "working with the new government and reinvigorating the long standing partnership between the UK and Sri Lanka".[353][354]
- United States – President Barack Obama issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating "the people of Sri Lanka on the successful and peaceful conclusion" to the election and Sirisena on his victory, saying that it was "a symbol of hope for those who support democracy all around the world".[355][356] Secretary of State John Kerry also issued a statement praising Sri Lanka people "on the successful conclusion of their elections", commending Rajapaksa for accepting the resulting and saying that he looked "forward to working with President-elect Maithripala Sirisena".[357][358]
Notes
References
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External links
- General
- Department of Elections Archived 2021-03-31 at the Wayback Machine
- Sri Lankan presidential election, 2015 analysis, Upali Newspapers
- Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV)
- Manifestos
- "Mahinda's Vision - The World Winning Path" - Election manifesto of Mahinda Rajapaksa (English)
- "Mahinda Chinthana - Lova Dinana Maga" - Election manifesto of Mahinda Rajapaksa (Sinhala)
- "A Compassionate Maithri Governance - A Stable Country" - Election manifesto of Maithripala Sirisena (English)
- "A Compassionate Maithri Governance - A Stable Country" - Election manifesto of Maithripala Sirisena (Sinhala)