BJP hopes Lankan President-elect will address concerns of Tamil community

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday expressed hope that Sri Lankan President-elect Maithripala Sirisena will address the genuine concerns of the Tamil community in the island nation.

"The results of Sri Lanka presidential (election) are still awaited. Whosoever wins the election, we will definitely try to have good relations with him which was always an initiative from India. I think that the new President will try to have good relation with India and will also address the genuine concerns of the Tamil community there," BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told ANI here.

Sirisena has been declared elected as the seventh President of Sri Lanka. According to reports, he has defeated incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa by four and a half lakh votes.

The swearing-in of the new president will reportedly take place at 6 p.m. today.

Rajapaksa, who had served two terms as the president and was seeking a record third consecutive term, earlier in the day conceded defeat to his challenger.

On Thursday, Sri Lankans voted in large numbers. The Election Commission in the island nation said that on an average there was an estimated more than 65-70 percent voting in most places.

In all, 19 candidates contested the elections, but the main fight was between Rajapaksa and Sirisena.