Early results in Sri Lanka’s presidential election Tuesday 26 January show that the president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is in the lead with 1.5 million votes, about 60 percent of those counted. The hotel where his opponent, former General Sarath Fonseka, is staying in downtown Colombo has been surrounded by army troops, as a “protective measure”, said an army spokesman. Fonseka’s supporters have said they fear a government-led coup if he wins.
The president’s early lead among the majority Sinhalese voters indicates that Fonseka has not been able to make inroads there, thus minimizing the importance initially given to Tamil voters in the north and east of the country.
Fonseka has not been allowed to vote because he is not on any electoral roll. Government media said Tuesday that he was not permitted to become president, but the electoral commission confirmed that he is eligible to become president if he wins.
Turnout has been high, estimated at between 70 and 80 percent of the 14 million eligible voters.
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News story, GenevaLunch, 27 January 2010.
Filed under: World news
Tags: Colombo, General Sarath Fonseka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sinhalese, Sri Lanka presidential election