Colombo: Gotabaya Rajapaksa elected as new president of Sri Lanka. He secured 52.25% votes against his rival Mr. Premadasa. Premadasa secured 41.99% votes.  Gotabaya Rajapaksa earlier served in the Sri Lankan army and he eradicated the LTTE in the country.

      Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the younger brother of the former Sri Lankan Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gotabaya Rajapaksa got more votes from the Simhali’s and Buddhists areas. Premadasa gets supports from Tamils mostly minorities etc.

   According to the official results, Mr. Rajapaksa secured 52.25% votes (6,924,255) while Mr. Premadasa received 41.99% (5,564,239). Other candidates got 5.76% votes, the election commission said. Mr. Rajapaksa, 70, who will succeed President Maithripala Sirisena, urged his supporters to “rejoice peacefully”.