Complaints flow from loser of Sri Lankan election

Calcutta News.Net
Wednesday 27th January, 2010

The winner of Sri Lanka's presidential poll has been declared, but the loser has rejected the result.

While President Mahinda Rajapaksa (pictured) has been declared the winner, his opponent, General Sarath Fonseka, has warned of a legal challenge to the outcome of the ballot.

The Elections Commission declared Mr Rajapaksa the victor with 57.8% of votes cast, to 40% for his rival in the first vote since Tamil Tiger rebels were defeated after 25 years of civil war.

After the result was announced, General Fonseka told a press conference he wanted the elections annulled following widespread irregularities in the run-up, saying he could have won the election but for the government's misuse of state media.

He also said troops had earlier surrounded his Colombo hotel to intimidate and possibly assassinate him.

The Sri Lankan military has said the troops were only deployed as a protective measure.

Independent observers said there had been quite a lot of violence leading up to the election, much of it perpetrated by followers of the incumbent president.

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