Maithri expresses gratitude to all parties, wants peaceful celebration
( January 9, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) While expressing gratitude to all the parties behind his significant victory at the 2015 Presidential election, President-elect Maithripala Sirisena offered advice to the general public to celebrate the victory in a peaceful manner.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was seeking a third term in his office faced a defeat with President-elect Mahinda polling in a majority of 51 percent at the 2015 Presidential election.
Election Chief Mahinda Deshapriya, at a press conference held at the Election Department in Rajagiriya, officially announced that Presidential Candidate Maithripala Sirisena had emerged victories at the 2015 Presidential polls.
Maithripala’s New Democratic Front (NDF) has secured a significant victory in 12 out of 22 electoral districts after polling in 51.28 percent (6,217,162) of votes, while President Rajapaksa from the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) polled 47.58 percent (5,768,090).
The final districts results indicated a clear victory for the NDF, which is widely seen as a crucial victory for an opposition party after decades.
Maithripala has pledged to abolish the executive presidency within 100 days and return the country to a Westminster-style parliamentary democracy where the police, the judiciary, and the civil service will be independent institutions.
Meanwhile issuing a message by the former President Rajapaksa says; "I value and respect our democratic process and the people’s verdict, and look forward to the peaceful transition of power. Thank you to all the thousands of Sri Lankans who supported me."
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