2019 Sri Lankan presidential election

Last updated

2019 Sri Lankan presidential election
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg
  2015 16 November 2019 2022  
Turnout83.72% (Increase2.svg 2.20pp)
  Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa.jpg Sajith Premadasa (portrait).png
Candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa Sajith Premadasa
Party SLPP UNP
Alliance SLPFA NDF
Popular vote6,924,2555,564,239
Percentage52.25%41.99%

Sri Lankan Presidential Election 2019 Polling Divisions.svg
Results by polling division

President before election

Maithripala Sirisena
SLFP

Elected President

Gotabaya Rajapaksa
SLPP

Presidential elections were held in Sri Lanka on 16 November 2019. [1] [2] Incumbent president Maithripala Sirisena did not run for a second term. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, brother of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, was the candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna [3] and was endorsed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. [4] Sajith Premadasa, son of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa and deputy leader of the United National Party was the candidate of the ruling party. [5] [6]

Contents

The results were announced on 17 November 2019. Rajapaksa won the election in a landslide victory, receiving 52% of the vote compared his main opponent Premadasa's 42%. The results of the election subsequently brought the Rajapaksa family back to power after a 5-year interregnum. [7] [8]

Sirisena's term of office would have ended on 9 January 2020. This was the first presidential election in Sri Lanka where no sitting president, prime minister or opposition leader ran for president.

Electoral system

The President of Sri Lanka is elected via limited ranked voting. Voters can express up to three ranked preferences for President. If no candidate receives over 50% of valid votes on the first count, all candidates except for the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes are eliminated. The second and third preferences of the eliminated candidates are distributed until one of the remaining two candidates receives an outright majority. [9] In practice, this system has seen little use, as each direct election going back to the first in 1981 has resulted in a candidate from one of the two major parties or alliances at the time winning in the first count. For this reason, many citizens opt to mark only one candidate, and many are wholly unaware that multiple candidates can be ranked at all. [10]

Timeline

2018
2019

Prior to the election

Sri Lankan recent election results
Dates of elections United National Party
(UNFGG)
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(UPFA)
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Tamil National Alliance Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Independents
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
2015 presidential election 6,217,16251.28% [i] 5,768,09047.58%
2015 parliamentary election 5,098,91645.66%4,732,66442.38%515,9634.62%543,9444.87%44,1930.40%42,8280.38%
2018 local elections 3,640,62029.42%1,497,23412.10%5,006,83740.47%337,8772.73%710,9325.75%92,897 [ii] 0.75%374,1323.02%
Sri Lankan political map prior to this election
Presidential election, 2015 Parliamentary election, 2015
Wahlbezirkskarte Praesidentschaft Sri Lanka 2015.svg Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2015 - polling divisions.svg
Elected members of each electoral district or municipalities, gaining the highest number of votes:

Poll prediction

Both main candidates have had their own surveys carried out with the results claiming victory for each of them. [43] Earlier circulated polls prediction which was claimed done by National Intelligence Service was proved false and manipulated. [44]

Nominations

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)

After the landslide victory they won at the 2018 local elections, the newly formed Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna intended to field their own candidate in the presidential election, with Chamal, Basil and Gotabaya (all brothers of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa) being mentioned as potential candidates. [45] [46] Calls for Gotabaya Rajapaksa to run were made even though he was ineligible to run due to his possession of foreign citizenship. [47] Basil also held foreign citizenship and was therefore ineligible. [45]

Chamal Rajapaksa had also signaled his potential candidacy saying he would "willingly consider it if the party nominates him as the next presidential candidate", soon after the announcement made by his brother. Chamal Rajapaksa was unsure whether to contest from the SLFP or the SLPP but preferred a candidate that had the support of both parties.

On 12 January, Gotabaya announced he was ready to run in the elections if he had the support for it, [48] [49] though his announcement stunned senior SLPP leaders. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was a leading government figure during the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War and the development processes of the Colombo metropolitan area and the Northern Province. [50] [51] [52]

In March, Chamal denied that neither him nor Basil would contest but avoided commenting on Gotabaya. Meanwhile, the SLPP announced that they favoured Gotabaya unless someone better is found. [53]

Gotabaya Rajapaksa already had a well organized campaign promoting him and according to D. B. S Jeyaraj, the Rajapaksa family had chosen to support Gotabaya as the candidate and that he would renounce his US citizenship. [54]

Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced he would run for presidency on 11 April, six days after the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings. [17] On 11 August, Mahinda Rajapaksa and the SLPP officially announced that his brother Gotabaya would be its presidential candidate, while Mahinda would run as his prime ministerial candidate. [18] [55] [56]

United National Party (UNP)

The United National Party did not field their own presidential candidate in either the 2010 or 2015 presidential elections and supported a common candidate in both elections. Though Maithripala Sirisena, the UNP-backed candidate, won the 2015 election, UNP expenditure for the election period was 500 million LKR and relations between Sirisena and the UNP had been shaky from the start. The power struggle between the president and UNP prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe led to the 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis. In the aftermath of the events, most UNP members publicly expressed their regret for supporting a common candidate in 2015 and promised to field their own presidential candidate in the 2019 elections.[ citation needed ]

Initially, party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe seemed to be the obvious choice for the candidacy and he reportedly expressed his intentions to run for the presidency in a meeting with other senior members. [21] However, several dissident UNP MPs including Mangala Samaraweera, Harin Fernando, Ajith Perera, Harsha de Silva and Sujeewa Senasinghe preferred deputy leader Sajith Premadasa as the UNP candidate, and organized a rally in Badulla where Premadasa himself openly expressed his intentions to be the UNP candidate. [57]

Amidst growing support for deputy leader Sajith Premadasa and party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe refusing to make a move, Speaker of the Parliament Karu Jayasuriya released a statement signaling his intention to run for presidency to end the confusion and avoid a rift within the party. [58] However, the Sajith faction showed that they had the popular support among party members and followers by organizing successful rallies in Matara, [59] Kurunegala, [60] and Matugama. [61]

On 26 September 2019, the working committee of the United National Party unanimously picked Sajith Premadasa as the UNP presidential candidate. Announcing the official statement, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that Ranil Wickremesinghe would continue to function as the prime minister and leader of the UNP.[ citation needed ]

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)

Incumbent president and SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena was eligible to run for a second term. Although he had previously stated that he would only serve a single term, after being sworn in in 2015, he had since expressed his desire to stay for a second term. [62] [63] However, with many party seniors choosing to support the newly formed Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna led by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the SLFP was weakened and suffered a humiliating loss at the 2018 local elections, thus losing the credibility it had as the main opposition to the UNP.[ citation needed ]

The SLFP pledged to support SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa on 9 October. [4]

National People's Power (NPP)

The National People's Power party announced Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake as their candidate in a massive rally on 18 August at Galle Face. [64] [65]

Candidates

A total of 35 candidates submitted their nominations on 7 October to the election commission. [66]

Major candidates

CandidatePolitical office and constituencyEndorsementsNotes
Sajith Premadasa (portrait).png
Sajith Premadasa (52)
New Democratic Front
Minister of Housing and Construction (2015–2019)
Deputy Leader of the United National Party (2014–2020)
Former Deputy Minister of Health (2001–2004)
Colombo
Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa.jpg
Gotabaya Rajapaksa (70)
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
Former Secretary for the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development (2005–2015)
Minister of External Affairs, Govt. of Bharat, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar with the President of Sri Lanka Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake (cropped).jpg
Anura Kumara Dissanayake (50)
National People's Power
Former Minister and Chief Opposition Whip (2015–2018)
Leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (since 2014)
Leader of the National People's Power (since 2015)
Colombo

Other candidates

In addition to the 3 candidates mentioned above, 32 other candidates also ran in the election. Ajantha Perera was the only female candidate.

CandidatePartyNotes
Mahesh Senanayake National People's Party 22nd Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. Endorsed by the National People's Movement.
Ajantha Perera Socialist Party of Sri Lanka Founder of the National Programme on Recycling of Solid Waste. [67] [68]
Rohan PallewatteNational Development FrontExecutive Chairman of Lanka Harness Co. (Pvt) Ltd. Endorsed by the Social Democratic Party of Sri Lanka. [69]
Duminda Nagamuwa Frontline Socialist Party Propaganda Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party. Presidential candidate in 2015.
Jayantha Ketagoda Independent Former UPFA MP for Colombo.
Siripala Amarasinghe Independent Former JVP/UPFA MP for Gampaha. [70]
Aparekke Punnananda Thero Independent Former JHU/UPFA MP for Gampaha.
Saman PereraOur Power of People Party
Ariyawansa Dissanayake Democratic United National Front Former UNP MP. Presidential candidate in 1999.
Siritunga Jayasuriya United Socialist Party Presidential candidate in 2005, 2010 and 2015.
Milroy Fernando Independent Former Minister. Former SLFP/UPFA MP for Puttalam.
Bedde Gamage Nandimithra Nava Sama Samaja Party
Vajirapani Wijesiriwardene Socialist Equality Party Presidential candidate in 2015.
Sarath Manamendra New Sinhala Heritage Presidential candidate in 2010 and 2015 (endorsed Mahinda Rajapaksa). [71]
A. S. P. Liyanage Sri Lanka Labour Party Presidential candidate in 2010 and 2015.
Samansiri Herath Independent Former NFF/UPFA MP for Puttalam.
Sarath Keerthirathna Independent Former Deputy Minister. Former SLFP/PA MP for Gampaha. [72]
Anuruddha Polgampola Independent Former JVP/UPFA MP for Kegalle. [73] Presidential candidate in 2015.
Samaraweera Weeravanni Independent 3rd Chief Minister of the Uva Province. Former UNP MP for Badulla.
Ashoka Wadigamangawa Independent Former SLFP/PA MP for Puttalam.
Battaramulle Seelarathana TheroJana Setha PeramunaPresidential candidate in 2010 and 2015.
Illiyas Idroos Mohamed Independent Presidential candidate in 2010 (endorsed Sarath Fonseka) and 2015. [74]
Piyasiri Wijenayake Independent Former NFF/UPFA MP for Kalutara. Former Deputy Chairman of Committees.
Rajiva Wijesinha Independent Former LP/UPFA National List MP. Presidential candidate in 1999.
Aruna De SoyzaDemocratic National MovementPresidential candidate in 2005 and 2010.
Ajantha de ZoysaRuhunu People's PartyFormer SLFP/PA National List MP. [75] Endorsed Sajith Premadasa. [76]
Namal Rajapaksa National Unity Alliance Presidential candidate in 2015.
M. K. Shivajilingam Independent Former TELO/TNA MP for Jaffna. Presidential candidate in 2010.
M. L. A. M. Hizbullah Independent 4th Governor of the Eastern Province. UPFA National List MP.
Priyantha EdirisingheOkkoma Wasiyo Okkoma Rajawaru Sanwidhanaya
Hassan Mohamed Alavi Independent Former UNP MP for Kurunegala.
Subramanium GunaratnamOur National Front

Withdrawn candidates

The following candidates initially declared their intentions to contest the election but later withdrew from the campaign.

Sri Lanka Freedom Party
United National Party

Rejected candidates

The following candidates placed deposits before the nomination date but failed to appear and submit nomination papers. [77]

Results

CandidatePartyVotes%
Gotabaya Rajapaksa Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna 6,924,25552.25
Sajith Premadasa New Democratic Front 5,564,23941.99
Anura Kumara Dissanayake National People's Power 418,5533.16
Mahesh Senanayake National People's Party 49,6550.37
M. L. A. M. Hizbullah Independent38,8140.29
Ariyawansa Dissanayake Democratic United National Front 34,5370.26
Ajantha Perera Socialist Party of Sri Lanka 27,5720.21
Rohan PallewatteNational Development Front25,1730.19
Siripala AmarasingheIndependent15,2850.12
Milroy Fernando Independent13,6410.10
M. K. Shivajilingam Independent12,2560.09
Battaramulle SeelarathanaJana Setha Peramuna11,8790.09
Ajantha de ZoysaRuhunu People's Party11,7050.09
Anuruddha PolgampolaIndependent10,2190.08
Namal Rajapaksa National Unity Alliance 9,4970.07
Jayantha Ketagoda Independent9,4670.07
Duminda Nagamuwa Frontline Socialist Party 8,2190.06
Aparekke Punnananda Thero Independent7,6110.06
Subramanium GunaratnamOur National Front7,3330.06
A. S. P. Liyanage Sri Lanka Labour Party 6,4470.05
Piyasiri Wijenayake Independent4,6360.03
Aruna de ZoysaDemocratic National Movement4,2180.03
Rajiva Wijesinha Independent4,1460.03
Illiyas Idroos MohamedIndependent3,9870.03
Siritunga Jayasuriya United Socialist Party 3,9440.03
Sarath KeerthirathnaIndependent3,5990.03
Sarath Manamendra New Sinhala Heritage 3,3800.03
Pani Wijesiriwardene Socialist Equality Party 3,0140.02
Ashoka Wadigamangawa Independent2,9240.02
A. H. M. AlaviIndependent2,9030.02
Saman PereraOur Power of People's Party2,3680.02
Priyantha EdirisingheOkkoma Wesiyo Okkoma Rajawaru Sanwidhanaya2,1390.02
Samaraweera Weerawanni Independent2,0670.02
Bedde Gamage Nandimithra Nava Sama Samaja Party 1,8410.01
Samansiri Herath Independent9760.01
Total13,252,499100.00
Valid votes13,252,49998.99
Invalid/blank votes135,4521.01
Total votes13,387,951100.00
Registered voters/turnout15,992,09683.72
Source: Election Commission

By district

Districts won by Rajapaksa
Districts won by Premadasa
Summary of the 2019 Sri Lankan presidential election by electoral district [78]
Electoral
District
Province Rajapaksa Premadasa OthersTotal
Valid
Rejected
Votes
Total
Polled
Registered
Electors
Turnout
Votes%Votes%Votes%
Ampara Eastern 135,05832.82%259,67363.09%16,8394.09%411,5703,158414,728503,79082.32%
Anuradhapura North Central 342,22358.97%202,34834.87%35,7756.16%580,3464,916585,262682,45085.76%
Badulla Uva 276,21149.29%251,70644.92%32,4285.79%560,3456,978567,323657,76686.25%
Batticaloa Eastern 38,46012.68%238,64978.70%26,1128.61%303,2214,258307,479398,30177.20%
Colombo Western 727,71353.19%559,92140.92%80,5435.89%1,368,17715,3331,383,5101,670,40382.82%
Galle Southern 466,14864.26%217,40129.97%41,8095.76%725,3585,878731,236858,74985.15%
Gampaha Western 855,87059.28%494,67134.26%93,2596.46%1,443,80015,7511,459,5511,751,89283.31%
Hambantota Southern 278,80466.17%108,90625.85%33,6647.99%421,3743,179424,553485,78687.40%
Jaffna Northern 23,2616.24%312,72283.86%36,9309.90%372,91311,251384,164564,71468.03%
Kalutara Western 482,92059.49%284,21335.01%44,6305.50%811,7636,847818,610955,07985.71%
Kandy Central 471,50250.43%417,35544.64%46,0184.92%934,8759,020943,8951,111,86084.89%
Kegalle Sabaragamuwa 320,48455.66%228,03239.60%27,3154.74%575,8315,152580,983676,44085.89%
Kurunegala North Western 652,27857.90%416,96137.01%57,3715.09%1,126,6108,5221,135,1321,331,70585.24%
Matale Central 187,82155.37%134,29139.59%17,1095.04%339,2213,252342,473401,49685.30%
Matara Southern 374,48167.25%149,02626.76%33,3615.99%556,8683,782560,650652,41785.93%
Monaragala Uva 208,81465.34%92,53928.95%18,2515.71%319,6043,000322,604366,52488.02%
Nuwara Eliya Central 175,82336.87%277,91358.28%23,1284.85%476,8647,155484,019569,02885.06%
Polonnaruwa North Central 147,34053.01%112,47340.47%18,1116.52%277,9242,563280,487326,44385.92%
Puttalam North Western 230,76050.83%199,35643.91%23,8605.26%453,9764,478458,454599,04276.53%
Ratnapura Sabaragamuwa 448,04459.93%264,50335.38%35,1244.70%747,6715,853753,524864,97887.11%
Trincomalee Eastern 54,13523.39%166,84172.10%10,4344.51%231,4101,832233,242281,11482.97%
Vanni Northern 26,10512.27%174,73982.12%11,9345.61%212,7783,294216,072282,11976.59%
Total6,924,25552.25%5,564,23941.99%764,0055.76%13,252,499135,45213,387,95115,992,09683.72%

Maps

Aftermath

Resignations

Minister Mangala Samaraweera informed President Maithripala Sirisena via a letter that he would step down as Minister of Finance with immediate effect. In the letter, minister Samaraweera stated that the 2019 election was the most peaceful and fair election held in the recent past. [79]

In a tweet, Minister Harin Fernando said, respecting the people's mandate, he will step down as Minister of Sports, Telecommunications and Foreign Employment. He will also be resigning from his positions at the United National Party. “I take this opportunity to thank every one who supported me in my tenure, hope good work done will be continued”, he added. [79]

Non-Cabinet Minister Ajith P. Perera said, respecting the mandate of the people of Sri Lanka, that he has decided to resign from his position as the Minister of Digital Infrastructure and IT with immediate effect. Tagging Sajith Premadasa he added, “It was a well fought battle”, “and the country needs your leadership at this critical time”. [79]

State Minister Ruwan Wijewardene congratulated Gotabaya Rajapaksa via Twitter for his victory in the election and said he will step down as State Minister of Defence. “I hope we will be able to build a nation free of division that unites all communities to take this country forward,” he added. [79]

Minister Kabir Hashim decided after the results were announced to resign as the Chairman of the United National Party and as the Minister of Highways, Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development. [79]

Issuing a statement, Minister Malik Samarawickrama said he will step down as Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade. [80]

Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka, resigned from his ministerial portfolio. In a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, he stated that he took this decision with respect to the people's mandate. [81]

International reactions

Supranational bodies
Nations

See also

Notes

  1. New Democratic Front candidate led by the United National Party
  2. The SLMC contested separately in 46 LA's and with the UNF in other LA's.

References

  1. "Presidential poll between Nov. 9 and Dec. 9: EC". www.dailymirror.lk. Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Possibility of a snap presidential election anytime after 9 January 2019 ::. Latest Sri Lanka News". ONLANKA News :. Latest Sri Lanka Breaking News Updates | Sri Lanka News. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Gota wins presidential nomination from SLPP and its allies". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "SLFP to support Rajapaksa". newsfirst.lk. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Sajith Premadasa stakes claim for Sri Lanka UNP candidacy". www.economynext.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  6. 1 2 "Ranil agrees to give Sajith candidacy". adaderana.lk. September 25, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  7. "November Lanka polls to test India's presence in southern Indian Ocean region". Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury. The Economic Times. 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  8. "Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins the election as Premadasa concedes defeat to the former". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  9. "Presidential Elections Act, No 15 of 1981" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-08-03. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  10. Gajanayake, Manjula; Siriwardana, Thusitha; Isuranga, Hirantha; Jayasinghe, Pasan (2019). "2019 Sri Lankan Presidential Election: Election Observation Report" (PDF). Centre for Monitoring Election Violence. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  11. "Sri Lanka Freedom Party regional convention backs Sirisena for presidential poll". www.economynext.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  12. "Sri Lanka Freedom Party regional convention backs Sirisena for presidential poll". www.economynext.com. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  13. "Sri Lanka : Gotabaya Rajapaksa returns to island from US". www.colombopage.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  14. "A decade after his killing, Lasantha's daughter seeks justice in the US". www.ft.lk. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  15. "Two lawsuits against Gota in US". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  16. "Gota returns". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  17. 1 2 Miglani, Sanjeev; Aneez, Shihar (26 April 2019). "Exclusive: Sri Lankan ex-defense chief Gotabaya says he will run..." Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  18. 1 2 "Gotabaya Rajapaksa launches Sri Lanka presidential bid". www.aljazeera.com. Aljazeera. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  19. "Anura Kumara named Presidential candidate of National Peoples Power - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. August 18, 2019.
  20. "SLFP to field Presidential candidate - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  21. 1 2 3 "I will contest for presidency: Ranil". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  22. "NEC has authority to call for presidential election from tomorrow-NEC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  23. "Sirikotha ready to make announcement on Thursday". www.dailymirror.lk.
  24. Srinivasan, Meera (September 29, 2019). "Lanka's ex-Army chief Mahesh Senanayake to run for President". The Hindu. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2019 via www.thehindu.com.
  25. "Petition against Gotabaya's Lankan citizenship to be taken up in Oct". www.adaderana.lk. September 30, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-12-01. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  26. "Gotabaya Rajapaksa seeks permission to travel to Singapore - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. October 1, 2019.
  27. "Appeals Court begins hearing petition against Gotabaya's citizenship". adaderana.lk. October 2, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-11-03. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  28. "UNP convention on the 3rd of October : Akila Viraj Kariyawasam - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. September 26, 2019.
  29. "Court rejects challenge to Gotabaya Rajapaksa's citizenship". Al Jazeera . Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  30. "Gotabaya's citizenship petition dismissed". Newsfirst. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  31. "Sri Lanka holds first ever Presidential debate among candidates". Colombo Page. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  32. "Gotabaya fails to attend multi party debate". Colombo Page. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  33. 1 2 "Presidential poll on Nov. 16". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 2019-09-29. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  34. "SLMC support for Sajith - Hakeem ::. Latest Sri Lanka News". October 15, 2019. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  35. Polkotuwa, Indika. "Majority of estate population supports Sajith". Daily News. Archived from the original on 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  36. "Thondaman's CWC to sign MoU with SLPP tomorrow". sundaytimes.lk. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  37. "JHU hold convention in support of Sajith". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  38. "TNA extends support to Sajith Premadasa". Colombo Gazette. November 4, 2019. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  39. "Chandrika joins alliance backing Sajith | Republic Next Sri Lanka". November 1, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  40. "CBK - Welgama Convention 2019 organized by 'Api Sri Lanka'". www.lankanewsweb.net. Archived from the original on 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  41. "Sri Lanka to hold presidential election on November 16". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  42. "Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe resigns". November 20, 2019. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022 via www.thehindu.com.
  43. "Both main candidates confident of victory at polls on Saturday". Archived from the original on 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  44. "Letter on presidential election survey false: Police". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 2019-11-17. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  45. 1 2 "Sirisena struggles to seal new alliance in Sri Lanka re-election bid". www.economynext.com. Economynext. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019.
  46. "Only MR can decide on presidential candidate: GL". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  47. "Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not contest in the 2020 Presidential Election - here is why - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 28 January 2018. Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  48. "I Am Ready For Presidential Polls If People Are Ready: Gota Hints At Contesting". Colombo Telegraph. 13 January 2019. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  49. "Presidential election: I'm ready if people are ready - Gota". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  50. "SLPP in disarray as Gota jumps the gun". Daily News. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  51. "Gota's entry splits Rajapaksa-led Sri Lanka opposition". www.economynext.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  52. "Headhunt for the republic's headship". Daily News. Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  53. "Gotabaya Rajapaksa suggested as presidential candidate : Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2019-03-18. Archived from the original on 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  54. "Sri Lanka's Presidential Elections: Family endorses Gota as the Candidate". Sri Lanka Guardian. Archived from the original on 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  55. "As PM, I will be in charge, hints Mahinda". Sunday Observer. 11 August 2019. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  56. "As PM, I will be in charge, hints Mahinda". Sunday Observer. 11 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  57. "Sajith Premadasa stakes claim for Sri Lanka UNP candidacy". EconomyNext. 2019-08-13. Archived from the original on 2019-09-29. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  58. 1 2 "Karu Jayasuriya : PM's new pawn to secure his seat as the Opposition Leader in 2020 - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2019-09-17. Archived from the original on 2019-09-29. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  59. "Sri Lanka : UNP Deputy Leader avows to 'definitely contest' presidential election at Matara Rally". www.colombopage.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  60. "Sajith's Kurunegala rally draws mammoth crowd". Sunday Observer. 2019-09-07. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  61. "Sajith Premadasa's Controversial Speech At Mathugama Rally Causes Ripples Among Working Committee Members Ahead Of Crucial Meeting". www.asianmirror.lk. Archived from the original on 2019-10-05. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  62. "Sri Lanka's new president appoints PM". Special Broadcasting Service . Australian Associated Press. 10 January 2015.
  63. 1 2 Rasooldeen, Mohammed (8 January 2019). "Sri Lanka's President set to stand for 2nd term". Arab News. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  64. "Sunday Times - JVP ready to announce its candidate on August 18". www.sundaytimes.lk. Archived from the original on 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  65. "NPPM Declares JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake As Its 2019 Presidential Candidate". Colombo Telegraph. 18 August 2019. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  66. "Sunday Times - Final list of Presidential candidates released; 35 candidates to contest poll, 2 objections rejected". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  67. "ජනාධිපතිවරණයට ඉදිරිපත්වන කාන්තාව". 2019-08-28. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  68. "Ajantha Perera". Ashoka | Everyone a Changemaker. Archived from the original on 2021-05-07. Retrieved 2019-08-29.
  69. "Pallewatta breaks trend in presidential candidacy". Sunday Observer. 2019-09-28. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  70. "Parliament of Sri Lanka - MR. S. AMARASINGHE". www.parliament.lk. Archived from the original on 2020-11-14. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  71. "Sarath Manamendra supports President Rajapaksa". Ada Derana . Colombo, Sri Lanka. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  72. "Members of Parliament: Directory of Past Members – W. K. M. Sarath Keerthirathna". Sri Jayawardenepura, Sri Lanka: Parliament of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  73. "Anuruddha Polgampola". parliament.lk. Parliament of Sri Lanka . Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  74. "Another candidate backs Fonseka". Daily Mirror . Colombo, Sri Lanka. 24 January 2010. Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  75. "Members of Parliament: Directory of Past Members – Ajantha De Zoysa". Sri Jayawardenepura, Sri Lanka: Parliament of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  76. "Ajantha de Zoysa endorses NDF Candidate Sajith Premadasa". News First . Colombo, Sri Lanka. 4 November 2019. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  77. "Final list of Presidential candidates released ; 35 candidates to contest poll, 2 objections rejected". Times Online. 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  78. "Presidential Election - 2019: Final Result - All Island". news.lk. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Department of Government Information. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  79. 1 2 3 4 5 "Several cabinet ministers step down from their portofolios". News 1st. 17 November 2019. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  80. "Minister Malik Samarawickrama steps down from his ministerial portfolio". News 1st. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  81. "Patali Champika Ranawaka steps down". News 1st. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  82. "EU looks forward to work with Sri Lanka President to bring whole country together". ColomboPage. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  83. "China congratulates new Sri Lankan president". NHK World-Japan . 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  84. 1 2 "Indian, Maldivian leaders congratulate Sri Lanka President elect Gotabhaya on his victory". ColomboPage. 17 November 2019. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  85. "Congratulatory Message from Prime Minister ABE Shinzo to H. E. Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (Appointment of new President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan 2-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8919, Japan. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  86. "Iran congratulates Sri Lanka on successful presidential elections". ColomboPage. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  87. "Pakistan welcomes Gotabaya's victory". Daily News (Sri Lanka) . 17 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  88. Times, Strait (19 November 2019). "President Halimah, PM Lee congratulate Sri Lanka's Gotabaya Rajapaksa on election win". Straits Times. Straits Times. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  89. FT, Daily (23 November 2019). "Russian President congratulates Sri Lankan counterpart". Daily FT. Daily FT. Wijeya Newspapers. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  90. "U.S. ready to continue its work with the new President of Sri Lanka". ColomboPage. 18 November 2019. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.