Opposition candidate Sirisena set to become new Lankan prez

January 09, 2015 07:11

Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse has conceded election defeat, his press secretary announced on Friday morning.

Press secretary Vijayananda Hereath said, 'The president concedes defeat and will ensure a smooth transition of power bowing to the wishes of the people.'

Maithripala Sirisena, the opposition candidate had taken an early lead in the cumulative results so far announced today in the tightest-ever presidential race in Sri Lanka in which incumbent Rajapaksa, seeking a record third term, was involved in a grim battle for survival.

In the cumulative results, officially declared at 2 am (local time), the 63-year-old Sirisena took a slight lead by polling 1,87,615 votes as opposed to 69-year-old Rajapaksa's 1,43,415.

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