Ex-defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins Sri Lankan presidency

Sri Lanka's President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa waves at supporters as he leaves the election commission office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Nov 17, 2019. PHOTO: AFP
Updated
Nov 18, 2019, 09:05 AM
Published
Nov 18, 2019, 05:00 AM

Sri Lanka's former civil war-time defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa was declared the winner in the presidential election yesterday, becoming the latest nationalist leader to sweep to victory.

The controversial Mr Rajapaksa - brother of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa - won 52.25 per cent of the vote in last Saturday's election, while his main rival, Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa, got 41.99 per cent.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 18, 2019, with the headline Ex-defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins Sri Lankan presidency. Subscribe

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