Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe welcomed “the victory of the people” Tuesday and appealed for unity after an election which seems certain to return his United National Party (UNP) to power.
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“I also wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the activists and the people’s representatives of our party who worked indefatigably in the election campaign”, he added.
Observers said that results from the seats still to be announced are expected to favor Wickremesinghe.
Sirisena beat his former ally Rajapaksa in a presidential vote in January and called early parliamentary polls to secure a stronger mandate for reforms.
Rajapaksa had been seeking an extended period of rule after abolishing a two-term limit for presidents when he lost in his attempt to win a third term.
However, a legal snag over the opposition United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) national list is at the root of the delay.
Mr Rajapaksa secured a seat in the parliament by standing from the north-western district of Kurunegala after ditching his home constituency of Hambantota, where three of his close family members contested.
Supporters of Sri Lanka’s former president and parliamentary candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa display his posters to mark conclusion of voting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, August 17, 2015. “I haven’t got to worry any more about Mahinda Rajapaksa – in a free and fair election we can hold him”.
Sirisena succeeded Rajapaksa as leader of the UPFA but has moved only recently to assert his control over the party and block his predecessor’s path back to power.
Sirisena had clashed with Rajapaksa, who ran for prime minister on an SLFP ticket, and a political realignment could leave the former president isolated in a rump opposition, as he and his allies face a series of corruption investigations.
“The Secretary-General encourages the new Government to make further progress on good governance, accountability and reconciliation”, said the statement.
But that possibility is becoming increasingly unlikely as the results trickle in, and Rajapaksa, in all probability, has been dealt a second consecutive defeat.
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Wickremesinghe will take oath as prime minister on Thursday after which his new cabinet will be appointed.
