SL President Rajapaksa takes big lead in early count

I / Colombo January 27, 2010, 10:23 IST

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is well ahead of his rival former army chief Sarath Fonseka in Sri Lanka's elections with an average lead of 60 per cent in the results so far announced, officials said today.

President Rajapaksa has so far received 1,514,944 (59.57) votes against 983,022 (38.65) votes of Gen Fonseka. Of the 39 electorate results announced so far, 32 have been secured by Rajapaksa, according to local media reports.

"Rajapaksa has taken an early lead with counting underway in the Sri Lankan presidential vote," election officials said.

Rajapaksa has received almost 59 per cent of the vote compared to about 40 per cent for the opposition candidate Fonseka, they said. The early vote count was 1,063,922 for Rajapaksa to 710,510 for Fonseka.

Tuesday's presidential vote was held in 11,098 polling stations across the country. A series of incidents were reported overnight including attacks on opposition supporters, police said.

Rajapaksa decided to seek a second term despite having two more years to go.

Meanwhile, the government website claimed that the President was moving towards a massive victory over his rival the retired army chief, not only sweeping Fonseka on postal votes but also at electorate level in a handsome manner.

"The President swept Fonseka in the latter's birth place at Ambalangoda, an electorate much boasted by Fonseka of a resounding win for him," it said.

Rajapaksa continues to extend his fortune of victory to all parts of the country covering all zones, it said.

"The stronghold of Colombo that backs Fonseka with an alliance is too predicted to fall into the hands of the President at any time when results are announced," the website maintained.

Results flow in a row as dawn fell on the island nation with millions of television viewers stay glued to their TV sets at home.

"Rajapaksa's overall lead on Fonseka is well over 65 with Fonseka battling to save face of a humiliating defeat," it said.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leading supporter of Fonseka, described yesterday's presidential elections as free and fair. A large voter turnout was witnessed as election observers and monitors claimed the poll was free and fair.