Gotabaya Rajapaksa takes early lead in Sri Lanka election result

Sri Lanka's former wartime defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa took an early le Sunday in a fiercely fought presidential election conducted under high security seven months after dely terrorist attacks. Rajapaksa, main opposition candidate, was leing with 52.87 percent while housing minister Sajith Premasa h 39.67 percent out of half a million votes counted, according to Election Commission. Leftist Anura Kumara Dissanayake was in third place with 4.69 percent. re were 32 or candidates for top job.

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Commission chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said at least 80 percent of 15.99 million eligible voters participated in Saturday's poll, which was marred by isolated violence that left several people injured. Rajapaksa, 70, was leing in island's majority Sinhalese areas while Premasa showed strong support from among island's mirity Tamil community in rrn and eastern regions.

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Premasa, 52, from liberal United National Party (UNP), is son of assassinated ex-president Ranasinghe Premasa. election is first popularity test of UNP-led government since April 21 suicide bomb attacks that killed at least 269 people and were blamed on local Islamist extremists. government h faced severe criticism for failing to prevent attacks despite prior warnings. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe stepped aside, allowing his deputy Premasa to enter fray and face Rajapaksa, younger bror of former strongman president Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gotabaya is credited with directing security forces to crush Tamil rebels and end a 37-year separatist war in May 2009 during tenure of Mahinda, who was president from 2005 to 2015. Election Commission has said it hopes to provide final results by late Sunday

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Srilankan Presidential race

presidential race in Sri Lanka this year marks comeback for Rajapaksa clan. main contenders in race are former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's bror Gotabaya (70) and  Sajith Premasa (52). Gotabaya Rajapaksa is former defense chief of nation,  popular for his part in ending Sri Lanka’s 37- year-long civil war against Tamil Tigers in 2009 and is eyeing a comeback after his bror lost Presidential race in 2015.

His main contender - Premasa from governing liberal United National Party (UNP) and son of assassinated former president Ranasinghe Premasa is eyeing to keep legacy running, reportedly campaigning for development and equality. But in wake of 2019 Easter attacks, Rajapaksas ored by Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority and feared by 15% Tamil mirity, have run up ir campaign mainly on security. A record number of 35 candidates are eyeing top post and votes of 16 million people in Island country.

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