SRI LANKA-ELECTIONS/REAX UNP leader welcomes election results, says it heralds "new-era" in Sri Lanka

Record ID: 143540

  • Title: SRI LANKA-ELECTIONS/REAX UNP leader welcomes election results, says it heralds "new-era" in Sri Lanka
  • Date: 18th August 2015
  • Summary: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (AUGUST 18, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PARTY SUPPORTERS SITTING ON LAWN IN FRONT OF THE ELECTION RESULTS CENTRE VARIOUS OF PARTY SUPPORTERS AWAITING FINAL VOTE TALLY OF THEIR CANDIDATES TWO SUPPORTERS SITTING POLICE PERSONNEL STANDING AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE RESULTS CENTRE POSTER PASTED ON THE WALL READING (English): "RESUL
  • Embargoed: 2nd September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Sri Lanka
  • Country: Sri Lanka
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAC99XYBAGFWKNX3ZOT9RL0YGI8
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The United National Party (UNP) on Tuesday (August 18) hailed the Sri Lankan election result as a "new era" for the country.
    The ruling UNP has won decisive gains in a general election, final results showed, putting it in a position to form a stable government after eight months of minority rule.
    UNP supporters gathered in front of the election centre in Colombo as votes were counted.
    The UNP, led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, won 106 seats, seven short of a clear majority, election officials said. Still, he should be able to control parliament with the support of allies of President Maithripala Sirisena.
    Current power and energy minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, told Reuters that the UNP would form the next government.
    "We are going to form a new government and we salute the mandate given to us and it's a new era for Sri Lanka," he said outside the election centre.
    "It will be another national reconciliation government," he added.
    He said the economy and political reforms would be the top priority for the new government.
    "The priority would be the economy, political reformation and to handle the international situation," said Ranawaka.
    The alliance led by Rajapaksa's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) took 95 seats after suffering heavy losses.
    The UNP won 45.7 percent of the popular vote, ahead of 42.4 percent for Rajapaksa.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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