Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Fides Service) - Mahinda Rajapakse was the winner in Sri Lanka’s presidential election on 17 November. He overtook his adversary Ranil Wikremesinghe by a small margin, 50.33% compared to 48.4%, obtaining 180,000 more votes for than his rival. The vote was affected by a Tamil boycott in the north and east of the island, whereas in the rest of the country there was a turnout of 75%. The Tamils had warned they would not vote because according to them neither of the candidates was capable of settling the question of civil war.
In his first address to the nation the new President said he was committed to “leading the country to an honourable peace with respect for all the communities”. The two main challenges Rajapakse will have to face and for which the people have great expectations, are restore national peace and work for the recovery of Sri Lanka’s economy still feeling the heavy consequences of last December’s tsunami tragedy.
Mahinda Rajapakse aged 60 a member of the governing Sri Lanka Freedom Party has the same the political line as outgoing president Chandrika Kumaratunga a member of the same party. Leader of socialist nationalist group, to win the elections he did not hesitate to make alliances with extreme Marxist factions and a radical Buddhist party. The decision caused a rupture in his own party revealing even more clearly the rift in the country not only between Sinhalese and Tamils but between the Sinhalese themselves.
The local Catholic Church says the new President needs support and collaboration from all sides, politics, society and religions to fulfil the tasks awaiting him. And immediately after the election the Catholic community stressed the urgent need to rebuild national unity the only path for reconciliation and prosperity for Sri Lanka. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 18/11/2005 righe 28 parole 286)
