Sri Lanka presidential challenger says victory in sight,Sri lanka voting % live updates, sri lanka presidential election 2015, sri lanka presidential election polling %, sri Lankan voters, Mahinda Rajapaksa
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- Category: Asia Election News
- Last Updated: Thursday, 22 January 2015 21:26
Sri Lanka presidential challenger says victory in sight
Polonnaruwa: The main challenger for the Sri Lankan presidency said victory was in sight and promised a new political culture as he cast his vote on Thursday.
Maithripala Sirisena is seeking to oust the island`s strongman President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who won huge popular acclaim for ending a long separatist insurgency but whose popularity has waned in recent years.
"My victory is in sight. There is support for us everywhere," Sirisena told reporters in the eastern town of Polonnaruwa.
"From tomorrow, we will usher in a new political culture. There will be peace and rule of law under my presidency."
One of Sirisena`s campaign rallies was disrupted by a drive-by shooting that killed one of his supporters, but he promised not to seek revenge.Also Read: Sri Lanka Voting Live: Voting starts for presidential polling in Sri Lanka Click here
"You cannot overcome hatred through hatred," said the former health minister, who defected from Rajapaksa`s government a day after the snap poll was called.