SL: Rajapaksa steps down

[third eye]

Just read a tweet saying that Pres Rajapaksa has stepped down & has moved out of Temple Trees residence.

Srisena reportedly leads by 400,000 +

 

[third eye]

Sri Lanka election: Rajapaksa 'concedes defeat' - The Hindu

Sri Lanka election: Rajapaksa 'concedes defeat'

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa conceded defeat, said his official media unit on Friday, following clear signs of his opponent Maithripala Sirisena's victory in the presidential elections.

Mr. Rajapaksa vacated Temple Trees, his official residence early on Friday, following a meeting with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, assuring him of smooth transition.

PTI adds:

With final result yet to be declared, Mr. Sirisena is expected to be declared winner by around 4,00,000 votes.

“President Rajapaksa left Temple Trees bowing to the people’s mandate in the presidential election”, a statement from Rajapaksa’s office said.

“President had talks with the main opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and conveyed his wish to let the new President take over without any hindrance”, a statement from Mr. Rajapaksa’s office said.

 

[StormShadow]

Implications for India?

 

[third eye]

Implications for India?

Going by this, it seems to have more implications for SL.

Srisena has promised to do away with a Presidential form of Govt, he was a member of Rajapaksa's party only after elections were announced.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/254cbce0-97a5-11e4-be9d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3OIZjZ1sT


President Mahinda Rajapaksa conceded defeat in Sri Lanka’s election early on Friday morning, handing the reins to opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena and ending his bitterly divisive decade-long rule over the south Asian island nation.

The stunning defeat follows a snap election called in November by Mr Rajapaksa and carries potentially wide ranging implications both for Sri Lanka’s constitutional future and its ties with global powers, including China, America and India.
Mr Rajapaksa won accolades for ending the country’s lengthy civil war in 2009 and promoting an economic resurgence, but critics charge that he undermined Sri Lankan democracy and led a gradual drift towards authoritarian rule.

He conceded defeat after a meeting with opposition figures at his official residence in the capital Colombo, following a closely fought and bad-tempered contest marred by occasional incidents of violence. Turnout for the election was unusually high, the election department said.

Mr Siresena, who defected from the president’s party shortly after the election was announced, had built a commanding lead in early returns.

He proved an unexpected and popular opponent, who went on to launch a forceful campaign attacking his opponent’s family-dominated regime over allegations of corruption and cronyism.

Although some observers had predicted Mr Rajapaksa’s defeat, the scale and speed of the opposition’s victory was unexpected, analysts said, indicating clear dissatisfaction among voters with their government.

“It is surprising that he would concede so quickly, and that shows that this is a resounding victory that bodes well for a peaceful transition, without fears of violence, which worried many before the poll,” said Sasha Riser-Kositsky, an analyst at risk consultants Eurasia Group.

Following his resounding victory, Maithripala Sirisena is the new leader of Sri Lanka’s 21m people and $67bn economy. But who is he? A previously loyal and relatively low-profile figure, Mr Sirisena served as health minister before sensing that dissatisfaction with south Asia’s longest serving leader provided him with a chance to seize Sri Lanka’s highest office.

“The is a hugely significant moment for Sri Lankan democracy, but we do need to remember that this was clearly a huge anti-Rajapaksa vote, and now Siresena faces significant challenges holding his coalition and delivering what he has promised,” he added.

Mr Siresena pledged constitutional reforms in a populist campaign designed to appeal to Sri Lanka’s majority Sinhalese Buddhist population, who comprise roughly two-thirds of the island’s population of 21m.

These included plans to scrap Sri Lanka’s presidential system and return the country to a British-style parliamentary democracy led by a prime minister within 100 days of taking power.

The result is also likely to re-shape Sri Lanka’s international ties, with opposition leaders promising to rebuild links both with western powers and with neighbouring India, which were damaged by Mr Rajapaksa’s slow progress investigating allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses during Sri Lanka’s civil war.

Mr Sirisena and other opposition leaders criticised Mr Rajapaka’s increasing reliance on foreign investment from China, which has supported billions of dollars worth of major infrastructure projects involving new ports, roads and rail links around the island.

Sri Lanka's transition is set to happen quickly, with a spokesman for Mr Rajapaksa quoted as saying that the president had already left his official residence in Colombo, and that Mr Sirisena was likely to be sworn in later on Friday, according to Reuters.

 

[StormShadow]

The result is also likely to re-shape Sri Lanka’s international ties, with opposition leaders promising to rebuild links both with western powers and with neighbouring India, which were damaged by Mr Rajapaksa’s slow progress investigating allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses during Sri Lanka’s civil war.

Mr Sirisena and other opposition leaders criticised Mr Rajapaka’s increasing reliance on foreign investment from China, which has supported billions of dollars worth of major infrastructure projects involving new ports, roads and rail links around the island.

Addresses some valid concerns. Thanks. And BTW...

https://twitter.com/x/status/553393186815492096

 

[third eye]

Rajapaksa like Indira Gandhi miscalculated.

The inputs he must have had which led him to call snap polls & believe he would return in strength were obviously wrong.

 

[Saradiel]

A new era for SL. Anyway i have deep respect for MR no matter how much i criticised him. He will be remembered as a strong leader in our history

 

[Armstrong]

@Gibbs @Saradiel @Azizam - Whats the new Sri Lankan leader's position on ties with Pakistan ?

 

[acid rain]

A new era for SL. Anyway i have deep respect for MR no matter how much i criticised him. He will be remembered as a strong leader in our history

Is that the end?..no more politics for MR anymore?

 

[third eye]

A new era for SL. Anyway i have deep respect for MR no matter how much i criticised him. He will be remembered as a strong leader in our history

This is something the SL people must give him.

Under extremely difficult circumstances he took the call. A call which has brought peace to the nation.

Even Winston Churchill lost after WW 2 in 1945. Even Atlee was surprised at the amount of votes labour got.

 

[Star Wars]

@Gibbs @Saradiel @Azizam - Whats the new Sri Lankan leader's position on ties with Pakistan ?

Everybody hates you !!!

 

[Echo_419]

@Gibbs @Saradiel @Azizam - Whats the new Sri Lankan leader's position on ties with Pakistan ?

That Ailey depends on PK & how much dollars it can commit for investment

 

[Gibbs]

@Gibbs @Saradiel @Azizam - Whats the new Sri Lankan leader's position on ties with Pakistan ?

No new position mate.. The relationship is steadfast.. Does not matter who governs

 

[Azizam]

@Gibbs @Saradiel @Azizam - Whats the new Sri Lankan leader's position on ties with Pakistan ?

I don't think there will be any major changes but still it's early to say.

 

[fatman17]

Sri Lanka election: Rajapaksa 'concedes defeat' - The Hindu

Sri Lanka election: Rajapaksa 'concedes defeat'

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa conceded defeat, said his official media unit on Friday, following clear signs of his opponent Maithripala Sirisena's victory in the presidential elections.

Mr. Rajapaksa vacated Temple Trees, his official residence early on Friday, following a meeting with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, assuring him of smooth transition.

PTI adds:

With final result yet to be declared, Mr. Sirisena is expected to be declared winner by around 4,00,000 votes.

“President Rajapaksa left Temple Trees bowing to the people’s mandate in the presidential election”, a statement from Rajapaksa’s office said.

“President had talks with the main opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and conveyed his wish to let the new President take over without any hindrance”, a statement from Mr. Rajapaksa’s office said.

Wow wasnt expecting this.
congrats to sri lankans for smooth transition of power.