Updated November 17th, 2019 at 13:57 IST
PM Modi, Dr Swamy congratulate Gotabaya Rajapaksa on winning Sri Lankan Presidency
PM Modi and Dr Subramanian Swamy congratulated Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna's candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa for winning the Sri Lankan Presidential elections
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Congratulating Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna's candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa for winning the Sri Lankan Presidential elections, PM Modi on Sunday, tweeted that he looked forward to working on the close and fraternal ties between our two countries. He added that he wished to work towards peace, prosperity as well as security in the region with Rajapaksa. Gotabaya Rajapaksa took an early lead on Sunday garnering 52.87 percent of the votes.
PM Modi wishes Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Congratulations @GotabayaR on your victory in the Presidential elections.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)
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.
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Dr Swamy wishes Rajapaksa, thanks former PM
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy too wished the newly elected President. He also thanked Gotabaya's brother and former Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa for calling him to inform the same. He also shared that many Tamil Sri Lankans had voted for Rajapaksa, adding that the swearing-in ceremony on November 20.
Gotabhaya Rajapaksha has won the Presidential election in Sri Lanka . He is a decisive and a clear sighted person . Good for India
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39)
Its was a pleasure to receive a call from Mahinda Rajapaksa informing me of the successful presidential campaign of his brother Gotabaya. Oath ceremony is on 20th. Tamil media told me a good number of Tamils have voted for him.
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39)
READ | Gotabaya Rajapaksa takes early lead in Sri Lanka election result
Gotabaya Rajapaksa leads
Rajapaksa, the main opposition candidate, was leading with 52.87 percent while housing minister Sajith Premadasa had 39.67 percent out of half a million votes counted, according to the Election Commission. Leftist Anura Kumara Dissanayake was in third place with 4.69 percent. There were 32 other candidates for the top job.
READ | Sri Lanka votes for new president amid multiple poll-related incidents
Srilankan Presidential race
The presidential race in Sri Lanka this year marks the comeback for the Rajapaksa clan. The main contenders in the race are former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's brother Gotabaya (70) and Sajith Premadasa (52). Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the former defense chief of the nation, popular for his part in ending Sri Lanka’s 37- year-long civil war against the Tamil Tigers in 2009 and is eyeing a comeback after his brother lost the Presidential race in 2015.
READ | Fear looms in Sri Lanka’s first post-Easter attack election
Incidentally, while Gotobaya is eyeing the presidential post, his brother Mahinda is reportedly set to contend for the Prime Minister's post. Apart from this, two other brothers from the Rajapaksa clan are political strategists for their Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party. One of them is reportedly also eyeing the speaker's post, putting a Rajapaksa in all the top government posts in the nation.
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Published November 17th, 2019 at 13:38 IST