The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which openly endorsed the now president-elect, Maithripala Sirisena, who ran as a candidate representing a coalition of opposition groups, extended its "warmest congratulations" to the new president.
"The TNA extends to the people of Sri Lanka – in particular to the people of the North-East – its sincere thanks for extending their overwhelming support to President-Elect Mr Maithripala Sirisena in accordance with the advice of the TNA," the TNA leader R. Sampanthan said in a statement.
"The new President Mr Maithripala Sirisena has to address urgently many grave issues the country faces, including an honourable resolution of the national question so as to enable the Tamil speaking people of Sri Lanka to be true beneficiaries of democracy," he added.
"The TNA extends to the people of Sri Lanka – in particular to the people of the North-East – its sincere thanks for extending their overwhelming support to President-Elect Mr Maithripala Sirisena in accordance with the advice of the TNA," the TNA leader R. Sampanthan said in a statement.
"The new President Mr Maithripala Sirisena has to address urgently many grave issues the country faces, including an honourable resolution of the national question so as to enable the Tamil speaking people of Sri Lanka to be true beneficiaries of democracy," he added.