POLLS WINNER. Gotabaya Rajapaksa greets supporters in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Nov. 17, 2019. Sri Lanka's Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya confirmed that Rajapaksa, an opposition candidate, won the presidential elections. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)
COLOMBO -- Opposition candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the Sri Lanka presidential elections, Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya confirmed on Sunday afternoon.
Addressing the media shortly after releasing the final results, Deshapriya said Rajapaksa gained a higher percentage of votes than his opponents in the presidential polls, which concluded on Saturday.
"Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa who contested from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, under the lotus bus symbol has won the elections and will be the next president of Sri Lanka," Deshapriya said.
Rajapaksa gained over 6.9 million or 52.25 percent of the votes, defeating his opponent Sajith Premadasa from the ruling party, who gained over 5.5 million or 41.99 percent of the votes.
In a statement, Rajapaksa's party said he will be sworn in as president on Monday morning in Anuradhapura, a city about 200 kilometers from the capital Colombo. (Xinhua)
