Sri Lanka's former wartime defense chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa established a l...
COLOMBO - Sri Lanka’s former wartime defense chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa established a lead over his main rival in a presidential election months after deadly militant attacks in the island, early results showed on Sunday.
Millions of Sri Lankans voted on Saturday to elect a new president to lead the country out of its deepest economic slump in over 15 years, following Easter Sunday suicide bombings that sapped investor confidence and hurt its tourism sector. With a quarter of total votes counted, Rajapaksa had 48.2 percent, while his main rival government minister Sajith Premadasa stood at 45.3 percent, the election commission said.
Premadasa, who campaigned on policies to help the poor, was leading in the north where minority Tamils are predominant.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sri Lanka presidential race tightens as minorities seek to stop RajapaksaSri Lankans elect a new president on Saturday in a 'finely balanced' r...
Read more »
Rajapaksa takes early lead in Sri Lanka electionFormer wartime defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa leading with 52.87 percent while housing minister Sajith Premadasa had 39.67 percent out of half a million votes counted, according to election commission.
Read more »
Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa in close fight for president, early vote count showsSri Lanka's former wartime defense chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa was locked in a...
Read more »
Security is the key issue as terror-hit Sri Lanka votes for a new PresidentSri Lankans head to the polls Saturday to elect a new President months after deadly terrorist attacks shook confidence in the government and security services and left more than 250 people dead
Read more »
Muslim voters attacked as Sri Lanka elects presidentCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Muslim voters traveling by bus to polling stations in northern Sri Lanka were attacked by gunfire and stones and blocked by burning tires hours before polls opened in...
Read more »
Explainer: Sri Lanka's presidential election, by numbers and issuesSri Lanka will pick a new president in a vote on Saturday that comes months afte...
Read more »