Sri Lanka: Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins seventh Presidential Elections

Gotabaya Rajapaksa won Sri Lanka Presidential elections on vember 17 marking return of family revered by Sinhalese Buddhist majority after victory over Tamil Tiger rebels. Rajapaksa spokesperson, Keheliya Rambukwella called its 'people's victory' and that sound policies put across by Rajapaksa have been 'well received by people' who led counting by 50.7 per cent while his main rival, Sajith Premasa h 43.8 per cent votes. Rajapaksa's party claimed victory and asked Sri Lankans to 'rejoice peacefully'. 

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'Privilege to hour decision'

Sajith Premasa ackwledged ir defeat and said it was 'his privilege to hour decision me by people' and congratulated Rajapaksa to be seventh President of Sri Lanka. Premasa also said that it was 'most peaceful presidential election in history of history' of Sri Lanka. se independent elections took place 11 months after fatal Easter Attacks which killed nearly 269 people and Rajapaksa campaigned on platform of national security and h joined race just days after attacks. He h also pledged to appoint his bror, Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka who was previously ousted in 2015 elections amidst reports of nepotism and corrupt deals with China. 

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To military commanders

seventh President of Sri Lanka h also pledged to pardon military commanders in prison for violation of human rights during war. This has also le to fear escalation of ethnic tensions of Tamil struggle for an independent state under his ministration. Rajapaksa has also served as a powerful secretary in Ministry of Defense but has been accused of persecuting critics.

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(With AP inputs)