For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts
Oneindia App Download

Sri Lanka elections: Former President Rajapaksa concedes defeat

|
Google Oneindia News

Colombo, Aug 18: Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa conceded defeat in parliamentary elections held on Monday, media reported.

"My dream of becoming prime minister has faded away," said Rajapaksa. "I am conceding. We have lost a good fight," reported AFP.

Former SL President MR concedes defeat

Rajapaksa accepted that his United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had lost even before Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya could announce the final results.

"We have won eight districts and the UNP (ruling United National Party) has 11 (out of a total of 22)," Rajapaksa said. "This means we have lost. It was a difficult fight."

No party appears to have secured an absolute majority of 113 seats in the 225-member parliament, which will force the new government to seek out smaller allies.

Sri Lanka elections: Will it be a come-back for Rajapaksa?Sri Lanka elections: Will it be a come-back for Rajapaksa?

Election Commissioner Deshapriya said he expected the release of the final party positions by midday Tuesday, while individual votes garnered by candidates would be announced later.

Parliamentary elections were held in Sri Lanka a year ahead of schedule by President Maithripala Sirisena who ousted the veteran leader Rajapaksa in January this year.

OneIndia News

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X