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Sri Lanka's ruling party says winning parliamentary polls

Xinhua, August 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

Leader of Sri Lanka's United National Front (UNF) Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday that the ruling party had won the parliamentary elections after defeating former president Mahinda Rajapakse and his opposition United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

United National Party (UNP) senior member John Amaratunga told Xinhua on Tuesday that the party will now decide the new government after Wickremesinghe's swearing in ceremony.

"We are happy with our victory. We will now form a new government after Ranil Wickremesinge is sworn in as the prime minister by the president," Amaratunga said.

The UNF secured 105 seats in 22 districts of island nation and with the national list slot of 20 seats, it will comfortably hold 115 seats in a 225-member parliament, while the opposition UPFA obtained just over 90 seats.

Wickremesinghe has pledged to form a national government with the UPFA and minority parties in order to form a majority in parliament.

The official result of the election is expected to be released later on Tuesday. Endi