Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

The Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapirya declared the Presidential Candidate Maithripala Sirisena as the sixth President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, a short while ago.

At the Presidential Election held on 8th January 2015, the Presidential Candidate Maithripala Sirisena who contested under the symbol "Swan"polled a total of  6,217,162 votes (51.28%) and secured victory. Accordingly the Election Commissioner said that he declare and appoint Maithripala Sirisena as the new President. 

He also took the opportunity to thank the Election department staff, public service officers as well as the Heads of the Police Dept and Tri-forces for the services rendered by them to conduct a fair and peaceful poll.

Source: www.news.lk

The Presidential candidate of the New Democratic Front Maithripala Sirisena has been elected as the next President of Sri Lanka by obtaining a total of 6,217,162 votes (51.28%) in the Presidential election held on 8th January 2015.

Final Result is as follows:

Souce: www.news.lk

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has condemned the terrorist attack in Paris and offered his condolences to the families of the victims.

Speaking from his home in Medamulana, President Rajapaksa said, “The world needs to come together to fight all forms of terrorism wherever it happens.”

Read more: President Rajapaksa condemns terrorist attack in Paris

On the invitation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, His Holiness Pope Francis will pay a State Visit to Sri Lanka from 13^th to 15^th January 2015. The Government and people of Sri Lanka are looking forward to warmly welcoming His Holiness and his delegation. 

All arrangements for the visit are in place and the required constructions are progressing on schedule including the altar at Galle Face Green where the Special Mass and the canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz, which will take place on Wednesday 14^thJanuary. 

Read more: State Visit to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a vibrant tradition of democratic practice since 1931 and has been conducting elections at regular intervals, in a peaceful and orderly manner, while the electorate has continued to cast their vote freely, in large numbers. 

Domestic elections are not for foreign government representatives to be prescriptive about, that too, a few days ahead of the polls. It is therefore surprising that the EU Heads of Mission in Colombo should have resorted to a press statement on an issue of a strictly domestic nature. Such an initiative could bring into question the bona-fides and objectivity of their intervention. 

The Elections Commissioner, who is an independent authority, has been mandated by the statutory powers vested in him, with the task of conducting free and fair elections. 

Ministry of External Affairs

Colombo

2nd January 2015

On the instructions of His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York successfully negotiated a Resolution which was adopted by consensus on 29^th December 2014, whereby the United Nations General Assembly acknowledged the significance of the Day of Vesak observed in many member countries. It invited the United Nations bodies at Headquarters and other duty stations where observed, to avoid holding meetings on that Day. To this end, the Resolution also encourages this arrangement to be taken into account when formulating future calendars of conferences and meetings. 

Read more: UN to avoid holding meetings on the Day of Vesak