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Sri Lanka President Rajapakesa Congratulates Sirisena on winning presidential election

Xinhua, January 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa phoned Maithripala Sirisena early Friday morning and congratulated him on his impending victory and inquired him when he would assume duties, presidential Spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said.

Earlier President Mahinda Rajapaksa left Temple Trees, the presidential residence after discussing with opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the cabinet to ensure a smooth transfer of power, according to a statement by the Presidential Media Division.

Over 15 million voters turned out on Jan. 8 in a tight presidential race between Rajapaksa and his former Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

However, official results are still being released and a clear winner has not been officially declared.

Sirisena, a former government minister who changed sides to become the opposition's candidate in November, has vowed to root out corruption and bring constitutional reforms to weaken the power of the presidency.

Rajapaksa won the last election in 2010, surfing a wave of popularity that sprang from the defeat in the previous year of ethnic Tamil separatists who had waged a crippling war against the state for decades. Endi