Sri Lankan presidential election, 2015 – THE RESULTS
Sirsena was declared the winner after receiving 51.28% of all votes cast compared to Rajapaksa’s 47.58%.[7] Rajapaksa had earlier conceded defeat after meeting Wickremesinghe and assuring him of a smooth transition of power.[271][272] Rajapaksa then left his official residence Temple Trees.[273][274]
Sirsena was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s sixth executive president before Supreme Court judge K. Sripavan in Independence Square, Colombo at 6.20pm on 9 January 2015.[275][276] It is custom for the president to be sworn in before the chief justice but Sirsena had refused to be sworn in before Chief Justice Peiris who had been appointed by Rajapaksa after the controversial impeachment of the previous chief justice.[277][278]Immediately afterwards, Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new prime minister before Sirsena.[279][280]
Central Bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Nalaka Godahewa, who had openly campaigned for Rajapaksa, resigned from their positions on 9 January 2015.[281][282] Minister of Foreign Employment Dilan Perera also resigned.[283]
National[edit]
Sri Lanka Presidential Election Results 2015
e • d Summary of the 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election[284]
Candidate
Party
Votes
%
Maithripala Sirisena
New Democratic Front
6,217,162
51.28%
Mahinda Rajapaksa
United People’s Freedom Alliance
5,768,090
47.58%
Ratnayake Arachchige Sirisena
Patriotic National Front
18,174
0.15%
Namal Ajith Rajapaksa
Our National Front
15,726
0.13%
Maulawi Ibrahim Mohanmed Mishlar
United Peace Front
14,379
0.12%
A. S. P. Liyanage
Sri Lanka Labour Party
14,351
0.12%
Ruwanthileke Peduru
United Lanka People’s Party
12,436
0.10%
Aithurus M. Illias
Independent
10,618
0.09%
Duminda Nagamuwa
Frontline Socialist Party
9,941
0.08%
Siritunga Jayasuriya
United Socialist Party
8,840
0.07%
Sarath Manamendra
New Sinhala Heritage
6,875
0.06%
Pani Wijesiriwardene
Socialist Equality Party
4,277
0.04%
Anurudha Polgampola
Independent
4,260
0.04%
Sundaram Mahendran
Nava Sama Samaja Party
4,047
0.03%
Muthu Bandara Theminimulla
All Are Citizens, All Are Kings Organisation
3,846
0.03%
Battaramulle Seelarathana
Jana Setha Peramuna
3,750
0.03%
Prasanna Priyankara
Democratic National Movement
2,793
0.02%
Jayantha Kulathunga
United Lanka Great Council
2,061
0.02%
Wimal Geeganage
Sri Lanka National Front
1,826
0.02%
Valid Votes
12,123,452
100.00%
Rejected Votes
140,925
Total Polled
12,264,377
Registered Electors
15,044,490
Turnout
81.52%
District[edit]
Majorities according to electoral divisions
Majorities according to electoral districts:
Maithripala Sirisena
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Districts won by Rajapaksa
Districts won by Sirisena
Electoral
District
Province
Rajapaksa
Sirisena
Others
Total Valid
Turnout
Votes
%
Votes
%
Votes
%
Votes
%
Ampara
Eastern
121,027
33.82%
233,360
65.22%
3,430
0.96%
357,817
100.00%
77.39%
Anuradhapura
North Central
281,161
53.59%
238,407
45.44%
5,065
0.97%
524,633
100.00%
83.10%
Badulla
Uva
249,243
49.15%
249,524
49.21%
8,303
1.64%
507,070
100.00%
82.99%
Batticaloa
Eastern
41,631
16.22%
209,422
81.62%
5,533
2.16%
256,586
100.00%
70.97%
Colombo
Western
562,614
43.40%
725,073
55.93%
8,673
0.67%
1,296,360
100.00%
82.67%
Galle
Southern
377,126
55.64%
293,994
43.37%
6,691
0.99%
677,811
100.00%
83.49%
Gampaha
Western
664,347
49.49%
669,007
49.83%
9,142
0.68%
1,342,496
100.00%
82.88%
Hambantota
Southern
243,295
63.02%
138,708
35.93%
4,073
1.05%
386,076
100.00%
84.13%
Jaffna
Northern
74,454
21.85%
253,574
74.42%
12,723
3.73%
340,751
100.00%
66.28%
Kalutara
Western
395,890
52.65%
349,404
46.46%
6,690
0.89%
751,984
100.00%
84.73%
Kandy
Central
378,585
44.23%
466,994
54.56%
10,329
1.21%
855,908
100.00%
82.63%
Kegalle
Sabaragamuwa
278,130
51.82%
252,533
47.05%
6,108
1.14%
536,771
100.00%
83.60%
Kurunegala
North Western
556,868
53.46%
476,602
45.76%
8,154
0.78%
1,041,624
100.00%
82.98%
Matara
Southern
297,823
57.81%
212,435
41.24%
4,892
0.95%
515,150
100.00%
83.36%
Matale
Central
158,880
51.41%
145,928
47.22%
4,214
1.36%
309,022
100.00%
82.35%
Monaragala
Uva
172,745
61.45%
105,276
37.45%
3,095
1.10%
281,116
100.00%
83.75%
Nuwara Eliya
Central
145,339
34.06%
272,605
63.88%
8,822
2.07%
426,766
100.00%
81.27%
Polonnaruwa
North Central
105,640
41.27%
147,974
57.80%
2,382
0.93%
255,996
100.00%
83.94%
Puttalam
North Western
197,751
48.97%
202,073
50.04%
4,026
1.00%
403,850
100.00%
73.81%
Ratnapura
Sabaragamuwa
379,053
55.74%
292,514
43.01%
8,517
1.25%
680,084
100.00%
84.90%
Trincomalee
Eastern
52,111
26.67%
140,338
71.84%
2,907
1.49%
195,356
100.00%
76.76%
Vanni
Northern
34,377
19.07%
141,417
78.47%
4,431
2.46%
180,225
100.00%
72.57%
Total
5,768,090
47.58%
6,217,162
51.28%
138,200
1.14%
12,123,452
100.00%
81.52%
Reaction[edit]
China – Foreign Minsitry spokesman Hong Lei congratulated Sirisena at a regular press conference on 9 January 2015, saying that China expected “new strides made by the Sri Lankan government and people on their course toward national development”.[285][286]
European Union – Foreign Affairs High Representative Federica Mogherini issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating Sirisena, saying that the “EU looks forward to working with him to further develop its relations with Sri Lanka”.[287][288]
India – Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Sirsena after Rajapaksa had conceded defeat, congratulating Sirsena and the Sri Lankan people for the “peaceful and democratic poll process”.[289][290]
Japan – Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida issued a statement on 9 January 2015 welcoming the “peaceful and successful holding of the presidential election”, congratulating Sirisena, saying that Japan hopes that “all parties concerned in Sri Lanka will work together to further promote national reconciliation, democracy and economic development”.[291][292]
United Kingdom – Prime Minister David Cameron issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating Sirisena and encouraging him to co-operate with UN investigation into alleged war crimes “so that the issues of the past can be addressed and the country can move forward to a brighter, peaceful future where all Sri Lankans can play a role”.[293][294]Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also issued a statement commending the Sri Lanka people “on the successful completion of their elections” and congratulating Sirisena, saying he looked forward to “working with the new government and reinvigorating the long standing partnership between the UK and Sri Lanka”.[295][296]
United Nations – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating the Sri Lankan people “on the successful conclusion of the presidential election”, singling out the election commission for its “professionalism”, saying that he looked forward to working with Sirisena but re-iterating his support for development, reconciliation, political dialogue and accountability.[297][298]
United States – President of the United States Barack Obama issued a statement on 9 January 2015 congratulating “the people of Sri Lanka on the successful and peaceful conclusion” to the election and Sirisena on his victory, saying that it was “a symbol of hope for those who support democracy all around the world”.[299][300]Secretary of State John Kerry also issued a statement praising Sri Lanka people “on the successful conclusion of their elections”, commending Rajapaksa for accepting the resulting and saying that he looked “forward to working with President-elect Maithripala Sirisena”.[301][302]