Sri Lanka PM claims victory in presidential poll
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-18 11:17

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse claimed victory on Friday in Sri Lanka's presidential poll after taking a slim lead with more than half of votes counted, his office said.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse talks with journalists at his residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 18, 2005. Rajapakse claimed victory in Sri Lanka's presidential poll on Friday after a Tamil Tiger boycott helped torpedo his main opponent's chances and an unofficial tally gave him a narrow victory. [Reuters]

"The prime minister's election office is announcing that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse has won the election for the fifth executive president of the country," Rajapakse's media secretary Chandrapala Liyanage told Reuters, reading a victory statement.

A newspaper vendor arranges newspapers in Colombo November 18, 2005. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse claimed victory on Friday in Sri Lanka's presidential poll after taking a slim lead with more than half of votes counted, his office said.[Reuters]

"The Prime Minister's office requests everyone to peacefully celebrate this people's victory," the statement added.

With more than 6 million votes counted by 0220 GMT, Rajapakse had secured 3,289,473 votes or 50.7 percent, just ahead of main opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe with 3,121,106 votes or 48.1 percent.

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse receives blessing from his wife Shirani before leaving for a polling station in Weeraketiya, 220 km (137 miles) from Colombo November 17, 2005.[Reuters]

Analysts said a boycott of Thursday's election enforced by Tamil Tiger rebels in the north and the east had helped swing the vote away from the more moderate Wickremesinghe towards the hawkish Rajapakse.