Gota promises early PC polls

President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa pledged yesterday that as President he would take steps to hold the much delayed Provincial Council elections as early as possible.

Addressing the presidential candidates, Elections Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya and officials at the EC auditorium, Mr. Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude and appreciation to all voters who placed their confidence in him, to elect him as the 7th Executive President of Sri Lanka with a thumping majority. “I thank all voters who had confidence in me and my policies and elected me as the President. I also thank the Elections Commission, its chairman and members for conducting a free and fair election without any major incidents. I assure you all, that I will take all efforts to fulfil the pledges I gave you in my election manifesto. I will also give my fullest cooperation and support to conduct PC polls as early as possible,” he asserted. Mr. Rajapaksa commented that Sri Lanka has changed a flawed election campaign tradition by holding a free and fair violence free election without cut-outs, banners, floats and fewer posters and hoardings which led to fewer incidents.

“I thank all those who voted for me and those who did not vote for me, as I am the President of all Sri Lankans now. I assure you that I expect to serve all of you notwithstanding your caste, creed or ethnicity or social status. Thank you all once again,” Mr. Rajapaksa concluded.