New President Sirisena will emerge as powerful candidate like PM Modi: Rajagopalan

Senior Tamil Journalist R. Rajagopalan said on Friday that the new President Maithripala Sirisena will emerge as a powerful candidate in South-Asia region, just like Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become an international figure.

"My understanding of Sri Lankan politics, having observed form last 30 years, I could very well say like Narendra Modi is becoming an international figure the new President Maithripala Sirisena will also emerge as a powerful candidate in South-Asia region. The new President of Sri Lanka is similar to Narendra Modi," Rajagopalan said.

Rajagopalan also said that now the people of Sri Lanka will have a breath of life.

"That is what I could make projection for another five years. The things will be very clear, Tamilians will have a breath of life and will play an important role in the new Government to come," said Rajagopalan.

He also assured that all the issues, like fishermen, will be addressed very properly.

"In the longer run, this will also pay at least 60-70 percent relationship between India and Sri Lanka. The trade relations, political relations and security concerns are important for Indo-Sri Lanka relations. The falling forces, adversarial to India, will utilize the opportunity of the new government and try to help Indian system," he added.

"The condition is very favourable to Indian conditions for two-three obvious reasons. One-Like India voted against Congress, the dynasty rule. What Narendra Modi has been saying that mother-son government should be wiped out of Indian scenario, similarly the Sri Lankan people have also voted for a stable government in Centre in Sri Lanka, for Maithripala Sirisena," he said.

Praising Sirisena's win he said, "He is the opposition candidate. He was nowhere and suddenly he woken up, and came as a powerful opposition candidate for three reasons. One is because of the antipathy towards Rajapaksa."

"The family rule of Rajapaksa has been totally wiped out similar to India got wiped out Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi. From 1996 onwards, especially this UPA Government's policy towards Sri Lanka was very bad," he added.

In Sri Lanka's tightest-ever seventh presidential election race, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has reportedly conceded defeat to joint opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

According to reports, Rajapaksa has left the official "Temple Trees" residence here, after cumulative results indicated that Sirisena was leading by a huge margin.

Rajapaksa had served two terms as president and was seeking a record third consecutive term.

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 per cent voting in most places.

In all, 19 candidates contested the elections, but the main fight was between Rajapaksa, 69, and Sirisena, 63.