• Round-up: global media reacts to election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa

    Nov 18

    The Sri Lankan presidential elections were watched closely by journalists and human rights observers around the world, with much being written and broadcast during the campaign period, and much more expected in the aftermath of the result.

  • PM to make decision on Sri Lankan parliamentary elections
    <p>Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe,&nbsp;said that he will make a decision on&nbsp;parliamentary elections after having&nbsp;discussions with the Speaker, Karu&nbsp;Jayasuriya, party leaders and other Parliamentarians.&nbsp;</p> <p>In his statement, the PM congratulated Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his presidential election victory.</p> <p>Meanwhile, a&nbsp;number of ministers have resigned today following Sajith Premadasa's defeat.</p>
  • Sri Lankan government ministers resign following Sajith’s defeat
    <p>Sri Lankan government ministers have resigned from their posts following Sajith Premadasa's defeat in the presidential election.&nbsp;</p> <p>Minister of Defense and Minister of Mass Media, Ruwan Wijewardene and Minister of Development Strategy, Malik&nbsp;Samarawickrema,&nbsp;are&nbsp;the latest to resign from their ministerial roles.&nbsp;</p>
  • UK joins others in congratulating Gotabaya
    <p>The UK is the latest country to congratulate Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his presidential election victory.&nbsp;</p> <p>British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Sarah Hulton OBE, congratulated Gotabaya on his election and "the people of Sri Lanka on a more peaceful election period than ever."</p>
  • Maldives congratulate Gotabaya on ‘resounding election victory’
    <p>Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of Maldives, congratulated Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his ‘resounding election victory’ on Twitter.&nbsp;</p> <p>He tweeted:&nbsp;</p> <blockquote><p> "Warm congratulations to President-elect @GotabayaR for a resounding election victory in Sri Lanka. I look forward to working with your new administration to further the already close and fraternal ties between Maldives and Sri Lanka." </p></blockquote>
  • US pledges support of strong sovereign Sri Lanka
    <p>The United States congratulated the people of Sri Lanka on their democratic election and pledges support of strong,&nbsp;sovereign Sri Lanka.&nbsp;</p> <blockquote><p> “We look forward to working with President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa on issues of good governance, economic growth, the advancement of human rights and reconciliation in support of a strong, sovereign Sri Lanka,” Alaina Teplitz, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives tweeted today.
  • Rajapaksa supporters celebrate amidst fears in the North-East

    A handful of Rajapaksa supporters celebrated in districts in the North-East today as many Tamils avoided public places following the announcement of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the winner of Sri Lanka's presidential election.

  • Hate speech flourishes online as Gotabaya victory declared

    With Gotabaya Rajapaksa being announced as Sri Lanka’s new president there has been a surge in Sinhala Buddhist nationalist hate speech online.

  • Government of Pakistan congratulates Gotabaya
    <p>The government of Pakistan congratulated Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his victory in the Sri Lankan presidential elections.&nbsp;</p> <p>In a press statement, released by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan’s government stated they “look forward to working with the new President and his team to further strengthen the already strong relationship between the two countries.</p>
  • Mahinda hints at repeal of 19th amendment
    <p>Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa<strong> </strong>has hinted at dismantling amendments to the constitution made by the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government, in a statement hailing his brother Gotabaya’s election victory.</p>
  • Mahinda claims 2015 lost on ‘backroom deals’ with ‘chauvinistic ethnic groupings’

    Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa has hailed his brother Gotabaya’s victory in the island’s presidential elections and said it was a defeat of the ‘“2015 style attempt to […] to purloin the mandate of the people through backroom deals with various chauvinistic ethnic and religious groupings organised through narrow political agendas.”

  • Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared Sri Lanka's new president

    The Elections Commission declared Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as the new President. 

    Elections Commission Chairman, Mahinda Deshapriya, formally announced that Gotabaya was the winner of the 2019 Sri Lankan Presidential election. Gotabaya secured 52% of the vote with a total of 6,924,255 votes. The SLPP said that Gotabaya will take his oaths tomorrow in Anuradhapura. 

  • Modi congratulates Gotabaya on his victory
    <p>Narendra Modi, President of India congratulated Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his victory in the Sri Lankan presidential elections.&nbsp;</p> <p>In his tweet, Modi wrote:</p> <blockquote><p> "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." </p></blockquote>
  • Sajith resigns as UNP deputy leader
    <p>Sajith Premadasa has resigned as deputy leader of the United National Party (UNP) following his defeat in the Sri Lankan presidential election.&nbsp;</p>
  • Gotabaya Rajapaksa claims victory in Sri Lanka’s presidential election

    Sri Lanka’s former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has claimed victory in Saturday’s presidential election, according to early reports.

    As counting continues across the island, with many districts still to release their results, Rajapaksa reportedly released a statement asking his supporters “to celebrate the victory peacefully”.

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