Victory sanctions President's mandate - Wimal

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

While Wimal Weerawansa topped the UPFA Colombo district with 280,672 votes, R. Duminda Silva and Patali Champika Ranawaka have clinched the second and third slots with 146,336 and 120,333 preferential votes.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe led the party's preferential votes list in the Colombo district obtaining 230,957 votes.

Sarath Fonseka who led the DNA Colombo district list obtained 98,456 votes.

Former ministers Dinesh Gunawardena, Bandula Gunawardena, Susil Premjayantha, Jeewan Kumaratunga, A.H.M. Fowzie, Gamini Lokuge and former Provincial Council member Thilanga Sumathipala have made it to the Parliament, while ministers Rohitha Bogollagama and Milinda Moragoda did not make it to the final tenth. Leader of Colombo district and Secretary UPFA, Susil Premjayantha said that they wanted new faces in Parliament and people have done that.

"We are happy with the result and want to thank the security forces, election office officials and specially the voters, he said.

National Freedom Front leader who topped the Colombo District UPFA list Wimal Weerawansa said the victory endorsed the President's landslide victory to establish a stronger government. We should implement long awaited constitutional changes through a strong parliament, he said.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said UPFA has obtained a majority at the election and he is satisfied with the counting process.