Sirisena was declared the winner, receiving 51.28% of all votes cast compared to Rajapaksa's 47.58%.[7][8] The result was generally seen as a major
upset;[9][10][11] when Rajapaksa called the election in November 2014 he had looked certain to win.[12][13][14] On 11 January 2015, the new government announced a special investigation into
allegations of an attempted coup by Rajapaksa.[15]
Timeline
2014
20 October: Minister of Mass Media and Information
Keheliya Rambukwella confirmed that the election would be held in January 2015.[16]
5 November: Rajapaksa sought the Supreme Court's opinion on whether he could stand for re-election.[17]
20 November: Rajapaksa issued a proclamation calling for a presidential election at which he would seek re-election.[18]
21 November: Sri Lanka Freedom Party general secretary
Maithripala Sirisena defects to the opposition and announces he would run against
Mahinda Rajapaksa in the coming election. Election commissioner
Mahinda Deshapriya announces that nominations would be taken on 8 December 2014 and that the election would be held on 8 January 2015.[19]
8 December: Nominations period opens by the Elections Department on 8 December 2014, all of which were accepted.[20]
23–24 December: Postal voting held begins for two days.[21][22]
2015
8 January: Election day. Polling stations opened at 07:00 (01:30 UTC) and closed at 16:00 (10:30 UTC).[23][24][25][26]
9 January: Rajapaksa concedes defeat ahead of the final result
9 January: At 12:00 (6:30 UTC), Election commissioner confirmed Maithripala Sirisena as the new elected president.[27]
9 January: Maithripala Sirsena is sworn in as Sri Lanka's sixth executive president, and seventh overall, before Supreme Court judge
K. Sripavan in
Independence Square, Colombo at 18:20 (12:50 UTC).[28][29]
Background
According to the
constitution, the normal term of office for a president is six years, although an incumbent serving a second term may call an election at any time after four years in office.[30] In November 2009, buoyed by the government's defeat of the rebel
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May 2009, incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa called an early presidential election.[31] In the
elections held in January 2010 Rajapaksa secured a second term in office, defeating common opposition candidate
Sarath Fonseka.[32][33] In February 2010 the
Supreme Court ruled that Rajapaksa's second term would begin in November 2010, and was accordingly sworn in on 19 November 2010.[34][35][36]
In September 2010
Parliament, which was controlled by Rajapaksa's UPFA, passed the eighteenth amendment to the constitution, removing the two
term limit on presidents, allowing Rajapaksa to run for a third term.[37]
There was speculation in mid-2014 that Rajapaksa would call another early presidential election: on 20 October 2014 Minister of Mass Media and Information
Keheliya Rambukwella confirmed that the election would be held in January 2015.[16][38] Critics of Rajapaksa, including the Bar Association and former
Chief JusticeSarath N. Silva, claimed that he could not stand for re-election as he had won his second term before the eighteenth amendment to the constitution had been passed.[39][40][41] In early November 2014 Rajapaksa sought the Supreme Court's opinion on whether he could stand for re-election.[17][42] The court ruled that Rajapaksa could stand for re-election.[43][44] The independence of the Supreme Court has been questioned since the UPFA
impeached former Chief Justice
Shirani Bandaranayake, allowing Rajapaksa to appoint an ally and legal adviser, former
Attorney GeneralMohan Peiris, as Chief Justice.[45][46][47]
On 20 November 2014 Rajapaksa issued a proclamation calling for a presidential election at which he would seek re-election.[18][48][49] The following day election commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya announced that nominations would be taken on 8 December 2014 and that the election would be held on 8 January 2015.[19][50]
15,044,490 Sri Lankans were eligible to vote at the election.[51][52] Postal voting was held on 23 and 24 December 2014.[21][22] Foreign monitors were invited to observe the election but not from the
United Nations.[53]
Electoral system
The Sri Lankan president is elected using a form of
instant-runoff voting. Voters can rank up to three candidates, and if no candidate wins a majority in the first round of voting, second and third preferences from ballots whose first preference candidate has been eliminated are used to determine the winner.[54] There are 12,314 polling stations in the 22
electoral districts.[55]
Concurrent events
Papal visit
The election had caused uncertainty over the planned visit of
Pope Francis to Sri Lanka, due to take place from 13 to 15 January 2015.[56] Prior to the election being called the
Catholic Church in Sri Lanka had urged all sides not to politicise the papal visit.[57][58] After the election had been called posters appeared showing the Pope blessing Rajapaksa.[59][60][61] The Catholic church has condemned the posters and called for their removal.[62][63]
In the last two weeks of December 2014 central, eastern and northern Sri Lanka were hit by the worst floods since 1956, resulting in several deaths and the displacement of over one million people.[64][65] Some local election monitoring groups have expressed concern that the displaced may not be able to vote at the election.[66] The Election Commissioner has however said that no candidate, their representative or lawyers had complained and that there was no reason to postpone the election.[67][68]
Candidates
Nineteen nominations were received from by the Elections Department on 8 December 2014, all of which were accepted.[20][69] Seventeen candidates were from registered political parties and two were
independents.[70]
Sirisena pledged to abolish the executive presidency within 100 days of being elected, repeal the controversial eighteenth amendment, re-instate the seventeenth amendment and appoint UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe as
Prime Minister.[121][122][123] On 1 December 2014, Sirisena signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with 36 opposition parties/civic groups promising to abolish the executive presidency, hold parliamentary elections, form an all-party national government and carry out various political reforms.[124][125] Signatories to the MOU include the UNP, Sarath Fonseka's
Democratic Party,
Democratic People's Front,
Azath Salley's Muslim Tamil National Alliance,
Free Media Movement, Federation of University Teachers Association as well as dissident groups of the LSSP and Communist Party.[126][127] The following day the JHU announced that it would support Sirisena in the presidential election.[128][129] On 30 December 2014 the
Tamil National Alliance, the largest political party representing the
Sri Lankan Tamil people, endorsed Sirisena.[130]
Sirisena contested as a
New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate under its swan symbol.[131][132] Common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka contested in the 2010 presidential election as a NDF candidate under its swan symbol.[133]
Sirisena released his manifesto, titled A Compassionate Maithri Governance — A Stable Country, on 19 December 2014 during a rally at
Viharamahadevi Park.[134][135] The main pledge in his manifesto was the replacement of the executive presidency with a Westminster style cabinet, but the manifesto acknowledged that Sirisena would need the support of the parliament to amend the constitution.[136] The manifesto also makes a commitment to replace the
open listproportional representation system with a mixture of
first-past-the-post and PR for electing MPs.[136] Independent commissions would be established to oversee the judiciary, police, elections department,
Auditor-General's Department and
Attorney-General's Department.[137][138] The Commission on Bribery and Corruption would be strengthened and political diplomatic appointments annulled.[137][138][139] Populist measures in the manifesto included a commitment to write-off 50% of farmers' loans, reduce fuel prices by removing taxes and a salary increase of Rs.10,000 for public servants.[138][140][141][142] Public spending on health would increase from 1.8% of GDP to 3% of GDP whilst that on education would increase from 1.7% of GDP to 6% of GDP.[143][144] The manifesto also stated that the casino licences granted to
Kerry Packer's
Crown Resort and
John Keells Holdings's Water Front would be cancelled.[145] Political victims during Rajapaks's rule, such as Sarath Fonseka and Shirani Bandaranayake, would be re-appointed.[140][146]
In a separate document, Sirisena has pledged that, whilst resisting any international investigation, he would establish an independent domestic inquiry into the alleged war crimes during the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War.[138][147]
Minor candidates
The remaining seventeen candidates are from minor political parties or independents.[148]
Many of the minor candidates were merely "dummy candidates" for the two main candidates, who were fielded by the main candidates to obtain the maximum benefits of being a candidate, such as free slots on state television, two agents at every polling booth and assigning counting agents.[152]
Conduct
The 2015 election, like past Sri Lankan elections, was characterized by violence, misuse of state resources and other violations of election laws.[153][154][155][156] Local election monitoring groups described the violations as shameless and condemned the
police for their inaction.[157] The government accused some local election monitoring groups of being biased in favour of the opposition candidate and of being funded by foreign countries.[158][159] The
International Crisis Group warned that the tighter the election, the more violent it would be, and in the event that Rajapaksa lost, he may turn to the military or the "politically-compliant" Supreme Court to retain power.[160][161] However, Rajapaksa stated that, although he expected not to lose, he would hand over power peacefully should he do so.[162]UN Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon called on the Sri Lankan government to ensure "the peaceful and credible conduct" of the election.[163][164]Commonwealth Secretary-GeneralKamalesh Sharma called for "transparency, a level playing field, and adherence to the laws and norms that govern a credible and peaceful election".[165][166] The
European Union's
heads of mission in Colombo issued a joint statement on 2 January 2015 calling for a "peaceful, credible and transparent" election.[167][168]
By 31 December, 2014, the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) had reported 1,007 incidents of election law violations, 105 of which were related to violence, including 19 incidents involving firearms.[169] CaFFE berated the police for seemingly allowing government supporters to attack the opposition.[170] The People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) reported 730 cases of violations by 3 January 2015 including 197 incidents of violence.[171] The Center for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) had recorded 420 incidents between 20 November 2014 and 5 January 2015.[172] The police had received a total of 214 complaints by 2 January 2015 and arrested 92 people, whom were all subsequently released on bail.[173]
According to analysts and opposition parties, Rajapaksa was using the Sri Lankan military to depress opposition turnout, particularly amongst the Tamils in the north and east of the country.[174][175] On 4 January 2015, international election monitors reported that they had received complaints of voter intimidation and that the army had set up 400 roadblocks to prevent Tamils from voting.[176]
After voting had finished, election commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya declared the poll to be "peaceful" and the election to be "free and fair".[177] However, according to the CMEV, some voters in the north were prevented from voting.[178]
Election monitors
104 election monitors from the South Asian Election Monitoring Forum, South Asian Election Monitoring Association, Asian Election Monitoring Network and the
Commonwealth arrived in Sri Lanka on 27 December 2014.[179] Monitors from the European Election Monitoring Association were also expected to be called upon.[180] The Election Commissioner offered six election monitoring groups the opportunity to monitor the count at only 300 of the 1,200 counting centres.[181][182]
After polling, Commonwealth observers said the election was not fully democratic due to the inadequate electoral and legal framework and the unequal pre-electoral environment.[183][184]
Violence
A Buddhist
vihara in
Borella belonging to
JHU MP
Athuraliye Rathana Thero was attacked on 20 November 2014, two days after the JHU left the UPFA government.[185][186][187] On the evening of 21 November 2014, UNP member Chamila Ranasinghe was shot at Maggona in Payagala, as UNP supporters celebrated the crossover of UPFA MPs to the opposition.[188][189] The houses of two UNP supporters from
Madampe, Milton and Sudeh Priyankara, were shot at on the night of 22/23 November 2014.[190][191] The office of UNP MP
M. H. A. Haleem in
Mawilmada was shot at in the early hours of 25 November 2014.[192][193] A rice truck belonging Sirisena's brother Dudley Sirisena and its crew were attacked in Marandagahamula on 29 November 2014.[194][195] A group of UNP supporters were attacked by UPFA supporters in
Gelioya on the night of 30 November 2014.[196] UPFA local councillor Shiron Fernando, who had defected to the opposition to support Sirisena, was attacked at his home in Bolewatte near
Wennappuwa.[197]
On the morning of 17 December 2014 a stage that Sirisena had been intending to use for a rally at Wanduramba near
Galle was set on fire along with a vehicle by an unidentified group, and three workers installing the stage were abducted.[198][199] Three suspects were arrested but were then taken from police custody by Deputy Minister
Nishantha Muthuhettigama.[200][201] Despite an
arrest warrant being issued for his arrest, Muthuhettigama left Sri Lanka for
Singapore on 26 December 2014.[202][203][204] He was arrested on 28 December 2014 after returning to Sri Lanka but was released the following day.[205][206][207][208]
The UNP's headquarters Sirikotha was attacked on 24 December 2014 by members of the Patriotic National Front and the Federation of National Organizers (FNO) resulting in over 30 injuries on both sides.[209][210][211] The FNO is believed to be an affiliate of the
National Freedom Front, a member of the UPFA government.[212] On 20 December 2014 UPFA supporters tried to sabotage an opposition rally in
Haputale before attacking UNP supporters resulting in five injuries.[213][214] A group of opposition activists were attacked on 21 December 2014 at the bus halt in
Hambantota by government supporters led by Hambantota mayor Eraj Ravindra Fernando.[215][216] Fernando was arrested the following day but released on bail on 24 December 2014.[217][218][219] On the night of 23/24 December 2014 an unidentified group fired shots at the stage that Sirisena had been intending to use for a rally at
Kolonnawa.[220][221] Sirisena's election office in
Batticaloa was attacked on the morning of 24 December 2014 by a group of around 30 unidentified people armed with firearms and petrol bombs.[222]
The house in
Beruwala that former president Chandrika Kumaratunga and provincial councillor Hirunika Premachandra, who had defected to support Sirisena, were dining in was stoned by UPFA supporters on 26 December 2014.[223] Later that night clashes broke in Beruwala out between UPFA and UNP supporters resulting in the
Special Task Force being deployed in the town the following day.[224] Sirisena's election office in Irrakandi was attacked on the night of 27/28 December 2014.[225] On the night of 28 December 2014 Sirisena supporters were attacked following a rally at Nidangala near
Mahiyangana, resulting in three injuries.[226][227] A group of artists distributing leaflets for the Sirisena in Kumbukgate near
Kurunegala were attacked by UPFA supporters on 29 December 2014 as police officers looked on.[228][229] On 30 December 2014 clashes broke in
Polonnaruwa between two groups Buddhist monks, one supporting Rajapaksa and the other Sirisena, during which an election monitor was attacked and threatened by supporters of Deputy Minister
Siripala Gamalath.[230]
An opposition rally on 2 January 2015 in Pelmadulla was stoned by government supporters, seriously injuring at least 20, whilst Sirisena was addressing the rally.[231][232][233] Unidentified individuals fired shots at the house of UPFA provincial councillor Lakshman Wendaruwa, who had earlier pledged support for Sirisena, on the night of 2 January 2015, injuring a security guard.[234][235] As Sirisena was leaving a rally at Aralaganwila on 3 January 2015 a group of government supporters arrived in a jeep and fired shots at the rally, injuring a bystander and damaging vehicles.[236][237]
On 5 January 2015 three people setting up a stage for a Sirisena rally in
Kahawatta were injured when unidentified people fired shots at them.[238] Arrest warrants were issued for three UPFA politicians, including deputy minister
Premalal Jayasekara, in connection with the shooting.[239] One of the victims, Shantha Dodamgoda, succumbed to injuries and died on 7 January 2015.[240][241]
On election day, 8 January 2015, explosions were reported at three locations — Navaladi junction near
Alvai, Nelukkulam Kalaimagal Maha Vidyalayam near
Vavuniya and
Beruwala.[242] Two women were assaulted by UPFA supporters, including deputy minister
Sarana Gunawardena, in Yatiyana.[243]
Media abuse
On 22 November 2014,
PEO TV internet protocol television network (IPTV) and
Dialog TV satellite television network had reportedly blocked the
Sirasa TV from broadcasting the Satana programme which interviewed the common opposition candidate Sirisena and several other members of opposition.[244] Tisara Samal Somaratne, a journalist for
Hiru TV and Ada newspaper, was attacked by UPFA supporters in Eppawala on 5 December 2014 and later threatened by UPFA supporters whilst receiving hospital treatment.[245]
The 30 November 2014 edition of the Ravaya newspaper contained a story claiming that the
State Intelligence Service had carried out a survey which showed that the opposition candidate would win the election by 59% to 41%.[246] The editor of the paper K. W. Janaranjana was later interrogated about the story by the
Criminal Investigation Department.[247][248] According to Ravaya, newspaper distributors had been threatened not to sell the paper.[249][250]
On nomination day, 8 December 2014, all English and Sinhala language newspapers in the country carried a front-page promotion of Rajapaksa's war victory whilst Tamil language newspapers carried an advertisement showing Rajapaksa re-opening the
railway line to
Jaffna.[251][252] All TV stations in Sri Lanka had planned to broadcast Janapathi Janahamuwa, a programme featuring Rajapaksa, on the evening of 5 January 2015, the last legal day of campaigning, which would have prevented other candidates from having access TV.[253][254] However, on 5 January 2015 the district court in
Kaduwela issued an
enjoining order barring the stations from broadcasting the programme.[255]
Naushad Amith, a journalist working for
Wijeya Newspapers, was assaulted by government supporters in
Maligawatta on 6 January 2015 as police officers stood by.[256][257]
Misuse of state resources
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has documented incidents of state employees, including those from
Road Development Authority and the
Sri Lanka Civil Security Force, carrying out election propaganda work for the Rajapaksa campaign.[258][259] TISL has also alleged that over 1,000 buses belonging to the state-owned
Sri Lanka Transport Board had been used to transport people long distances to attend Rajapaksa rallies.[260][261] TISL has complained to the Election Commissioner regarding state-owned TV stations (
Rupavahini and
Independent Television Network (ITN)) carrying live broadcasts of Rajapaksa rallies — a violation of election laws.[262] The Election Commissioner has asked the state broadcasters not to broadcast programmes supporting Rajapaksa.[263][264] According to TISL government officials were distributing free mobile phones on behalf of the Rajapaksa campaign.[265]
The UNP has alleged that employees of the state-owned
Sri Lanka Ports Authority are being used for election propaganda work for the Rajapaksa campaign.[266][267] The Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (a pro-UNP trade union) has alleged that more than 1,000 employees of
Colombo Port have been transferred to carry out election work for the Rajapaksa campaign.[268]
Government employees have been photographed by The Sunday Times putting up Rajapaksa posters on the
Southern Expressway.[269] The newspaper has also reported that several senior diplomats had been recalled to Sri Lanka to work on Rajapaksa's campaign.[270] CaFFE has claimed that 44 prisoners from Galle Prison were used to erect the stage for a Rajapaksa rally at
Kamburupitiya on 14 December 2014.[271][272] CaFFE has also alleged that senior government officials are openly campaigning for Rajapaksa.[273] Rajapaksa's manifesto launch on 23 December 2014 was broadcast live on the state-owned Rupavahini TV station.[93][274] The opposition has alleged that the army is campaigning for Rajapaksa, a charge the army has denied.[275] The army was found to have used state money to post Rajapaksa campaign propaganda to hundreds of thousands of soldiers and their families.[276]
The Sri Lankan government has denied that state resources are being used on the Rajapaksa campaign.[277][278]
Alleged role of R&AW
It was alleged by a Sri Lankan newspaper
The Sunday Times, that Indian spy agency
Research and Analysis Wing had a played in role in uniting the opposition, to bring about the defeat of
Mahinda Rajapaksa. There had been growing concern in India on the increasing influence of its economic and military rival
China in Sri Lankan affairs. Rajapaksa further upped the ante by allowing 2 Chinese submarines to dock in 2014, without informing India, in spite of a standstill agreement to this effect between India and Sri Lanka. The growing Chinese tilt of Rajapaksa was viewed by India with unease. Further, it was alleged that R&AW Chief of Station in Colombo helped co-ordination of talks within the opposition, and convinced former PM
Ranil Wickremesinghe not to stand against Rajapaksa, but to choose a common opposition candidate, who had better chances of winning. The agent was also alleged to have been in touch with
Chandrika Kumaratunga, who played a key role in convincing
Maithripala Sirisena to be the common candidate. Further, it was alleged that the Rajapaksa government had expelled the involved R&AW Colombo station chief in the run-up to presidential election.[279][280][281][282][283][284]
Such allegations were denied by the
Indian Government[285] and the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.[286]
Results
Sirsena was declared the winner after receiving 51.28% of all votes cast compared to Rajapaksa's 47.58%.[287][288] Approximately 58% of Sinhalese voters voted for Rajapaksa while 84% of minority voters voted for Sirisena.[289]Voter turnout was 81.52%, higher than any previous Sri Lankan presidential election and significantly higher than the 2010 presidential election.[290][291] Sirsena won 12
electoral districts whilst Rajapaksa won in the remaining 10.[292]
Rajapaksa had earlier conceded defeat after meeting Wickremesinghe and assured him of a smooth transition of power.[293][294] Rajapaksa then left his official residence, the
Temple Trees.[295][296] He also vacated the
President's House.[297]
Sirisena was sworn in as the sixth executive president of Sri Lanka before Supreme Court judge
K. Sripavan in
Independence Square, Colombo at 6.20pm on 9 January 2015.[28][29] Normally, it is custom for the president to be sworn in before the chief justice, however, Sirisena had refused to be sworn in before Chief Justice
Mohan Peiris, who had been controversially appointed by Rajapaksa after the controversial impeachment of the previous chief justice
Shirani Bandaranayake.[298][299] Immediately afterwards, Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka's new prime minister before Sirisena.[300][301] After being sworn in, Sirisena stated that he would only serve a single term.[302]
According to
Mangala Samaraweera and Rajitha Senaratne, senior figures in the Sirisena campaign, Rajapaksa attempted to stage a
coup in order to stay in power when it became clear he was going to lose the election.[303][304] They claimed that Rajapaksa and his brother
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, then-current Defense Secretary, summoned
Commander of the ArmyDaya Ratnayake,
Inspector General of Police N. K. Illangakoon and
Attorney General Yuwanjana Wanasundera to the Temple Trees at around 1am on 9 January 2015.[305] Rajapaksa allegedly pressured the three officials to deploy troops, annul the election results and declare a
state of emergency, however, they refused.[306][307] According to the Colombo Telegraph, Rajapaksa also wished to
dissolve parliament.[308] It was only then Rajapaksa decided to concede defeat and summoned Wickremesinghe to assure him of a smooth transition of power.[309]
A spokesman for Rajapaksa dismissed the allegations as baseless.[310][311] The army and police have also denied the allegations.[312] The Sirisena government subsequently investigated the alleged coup attempt.[15]
Departures and resignations
Central Bank governor
Ajith Nivard Cabraal, who had openly campaigned for Rajapaksa, resigned from his position on 9 January 2015.[313] Minister of Foreign Employment
Dilan Perera also resigned.[314] The controversial Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera fled to
Singapore on election day.[315] He was replaced by Arjuna Mahendran.[316] B.M.U.D. Basnayake was appointed Defence Secretary, replacing Rajapaksa's brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa.[317][318]Lanka Hospitals Corporation, whose biggest shareholder is the state-owned
Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, announced on 9 January 2015 that its chairman (Gotabaya Rajapaksa) and vice chair person (Roshini Cabraal, wife of Ajith Nivard Cabraal) had resigned.[319]
Basil Rajapaksa,
Minister of Economic Development and another brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa, left Sri Lanka with his wife for the United States on 11 January 2015.[320] Basil Rajapaksa holds US-Sri Lankan
dual citizenship.[321][322] Senior diplomats who had returned to Sri Lanka to support the Rajapaksa election campaign left the country on the same day.[323] Two of aides of Sarath Fonseka, Major General Mahesh Senanayake and Brigadier Duminda Keppetiwalana, who had fled Sri Lanka after the 2010 presidential election, returned to Sri Lanka on 10 January 2015.[324]
Rajpal Abeynayake and
Dinesh Weerawansa, editors of the state-owned Daily News and Sunday Observer newspapers which had run a venomous campaign against Sirisena in the run up to the election, failed to show up for work on 9 January 2015 and had vanished.[325] After Sirisena's victory the Daily News made an abrupt
u-turn, praising Sirisena and criticising Rajapaksa.[326]Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation chairman Hudson Samarasinghe and Deputy General Manager of ITN Sudharman Radaliyagoda had fled the country according to the Colombo Telegraph.
Somaratne Dissanayake, who had worked for the Rajapaksa regime before defecting to support Sirisena, was appointed chairman of the state-owned
Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.[327]
The new administration has said that a special unit will be established to investigate large scale corruption during the Rajapaksa regime.[328]
On 10 January 2015 minister
Nimal Siripala de Silva announced that the UPFA would support Sirisena's 100-day programme unconditionally.[329][330] Addressing the nation from
Temple of the Tooth the following day, Sirisena invited all political parties to join to form a
national unity government.[331] Shortly afterwards a group of 21 SLFP MPs pledged their support for Sirisena.[332][333] According to Sirisena's team has enough support in parliament to secure a majority.[334]
International reaction
Supranational bodies
United Nations –
Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating the Sri Lankan people "on the successful conclusion of the presidential election", singling out the election commission for its "professionalism", saying that he looked forward to working with Sirisena but re-iterating his support for development, reconciliation, political dialogue and accountability.[335][336]
Australia –
Minister for Foreign AffairsJulie Bishop issued a statement on 10 January 2015 congratulating Sri Lankans on a peaceful and orderly election and pledging to support Sirisena as he implements democratic reform, good governance and anti-corruption measures.[339][340] Later
Prime MinisterTony Abbott telephoned Sirisena to congratulate him and emphasising "continuing cooperation" between the countries on
people smuggling.[341][342]
China – At a regular press conference on 9 January 2015
Foreign Ministry spokesman
Hong Lei congratulated Sirisena, saying that China expected "new strides made by the Sri Lankan government and people on their course toward national development".[343][344]
India –
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi telephoned Sirisena after Rajapaksa had conceded defeat, congratulating Sirisena and the Sri Lankan people for the "peaceful and democratic poll process".[345][346]
Japan –
Minister for Foreign AffairsFumio Kishida issued a statement on 9 January 2015 welcoming the "peaceful and successful holding of the presidential election", congratulating Sirisena, saying that Japan hopes that "all parties concerned in Sri Lanka will work together to further promote national reconciliation, democracy and economic development".[347][348]
Norway –
Prime MinisterErna Solberg issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating the Sri Lankan people and Sirisena, saying that she looked forward to working with the new government to "promote a peaceful, inclusive and democratic Sri Lanka".[349][350]
United Kingdom –
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating Sirisena and encouraging him to co-operate with UN investigation into alleged war crimes "so that the issues of the past can be addressed and the country can move forward to a brighter, peaceful future where all Sri Lankans can play a role".[351][352]Foreign SecretaryPhilip Hammond also issued a statement commending the Sri Lanka people "on the successful completion of their elections" and congratulating Sirisena, saying he looked forward to "working with the new government and reinvigorating the long standing partnership between the UK and Sri Lanka".[353][354]
United States –
PresidentBarack Obama issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating "the people of Sri Lanka on the successful and peaceful conclusion" to the election and Sirisena on his victory, saying that it was "a symbol of hope for those who support democracy all around the world".[355][356]Secretary of StateJohn Kerry also issued a statement praising Sri Lanka people "on the successful conclusion of their elections", commending Rajapaksa for accepting the resulting and saying that he looked "forward to working with President-elect Maithripala Sirisena".[357][358]