sr Serbian
sq Albanianen Englishfr Frenchde Germanru Russiansr Serbiantr Turkish

Best Songs

    Best Adriatic Songs

    Sri Lanka votes for president in shadow of Easter Sunday attack

    Published: 16 November 2019
    No comments
    Categories: Test
    Sri Lanka presidential candidates Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Sajith Premadasa, November 2019

    Image copyright
    AFP

    Sri Lankans voted to choose a new president on Saturday, seven months after a devastating terror attack killed more than 250 people.

    A total of 35 candidates were vying for votes in the presidential election, the third since the end of the country’s decades-long civil war in 2009.

    The current president, however, was not on the ballot.

    Maithripala Sirisena decided against running after coming under criticism following the Easter Sunday bombings.

    The attack by Islamic State group-linked militants in April, which targeted churches and high-end hotels across the island, left at least 253 people dead.

    The government was forced to later admit it had suffered a “major intelligence lapse”, with the defence secretary revealing an Indian intelligence warning from the beginning of the month about planned attacks was not properly shared by the authorities.

    Image copyright
    Reuters

    Just before polling got under way, gunmen opened fire on a convoy of buses carrying Muslim voters in the country’s north-west. The perpetrators built a makeshift roadblock out of burning tyres, before shooting at the buses and pelting them with stones.

    Police said there were no casualties, but two women were injured by the stones.

    Meanwhile in the northern Jaffna peninsula, police said 10 men were arrested for “trying to create trouble”.

    Despite these incidents turnout was reported to be high, with election chief Mahinda Deshapriya saying it was over 80%.

    Who could be Sri Lanka’s next president?

    Although there was a two-foot long ballot paper to accommodate all the candidates’ names, this was an election with two clear frontrunners, one of whom has been accused of human rights abuses during his decade as defence secretary under his brother’s presidential rule.

    Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was in power when thousands of people – particularly Tamils – went missing in what have been described as enforced disappearances between 2005 and 2015.

    But it was also his role in ending the civil war that boosted Mr Rajapaksa’s fortunes after this year’s Easter Sunday attacks.

    Image copyright
    AFP

    His tough stance on security impressed many in the country’s Sinhalese Buddhist majority following the attack, with supporters choosing to overlook the various allegations against him – including questions over citizenship.

    The importance of security to voters did not go unnoticed by his main rival, fellow frontrunner Sajith Premadasa. He launched his campaign with a promise that if he won, he would hire the army chief who defeated the Tamil Tigers, Sarath Fonseka, to oversee national security.

    More about Sri Lanka and the Easter Sunday bombings

    image

    Media playback is unsupported on your device

    However, Mr Premadasa has more regularly focused on social issues, promising to eradicate poverty and improve housing.

    Like his rival, he already has a loyal support base. The son of a president who was assassinated by Tamil Tiger rebels in 1993, he is the current housing minister and has managed to take on the Rajapaksa family in their own region.

    Big choice for voters

    Yogita Limaye, BBC News in Colombo

    The ballot paper is the longest it has ever been in the country’s history – 35 names. That’s why the period for voting has been extended by an hour.

    I met voters coming out of a Colombo polling station, their fingers inked after they cast their vote. Shahini Liyanagama, a first-time voter, said the Easter Sunday bombings weighed heavily on her mind.

    “It was the first time I thought I could die, because one of the attacks was very close to my home. I think my country is very unstable at the moment, so I want that to change,” she told me. Mohommad Farouk Mohodin, a senior citizen, said he voted for a “new line of thinking”.

    Many Sri Lankans believe the current government has failed to protect them, which is the big challenge for ruling party candidate Sajith Premadasa.

    In the country’s north where Tamil minorities live, there is the fear that Gotabaya Rajapaksa could win.

    He is accused of human rights violations against Tamils. Kanagasabai Ratnasingham, 82, believes Mr Rajapaksa was behind the disappearance of his son in 2006. “If he comes to power, it will be dangerous for us,” he told me.

    Mr Rajapaksa has always denied the allegations against him and among many of the Sinhalese majority, he is seen as the strongman who ended the war.

    What happened to the current president?

    Maithripala Sirisena swept to power in a surprise victory against Mr Rajapaksa in 2015.

    But he has decided not to try for a second term, with no explanation forthcoming.

    However, he is increasingly unpopular with Sri Lankans. Evidence he may have disregarded intelligence about the Easter Sunday bombings came hot on the heels of a constitutional crisis sparked by Mr Sirisena sacking his own prime minister.

    image

    Media playback is unsupported on your device

    And then there were a number of bizarre rants – about the cashew nuts on board Sri Lanka’s national carrier, for example, and about the organisers of a gig by Spanish pop star Enrique Iglesias, whom Mr Sirisena said should be whipped.

    But what do voters care about?

    National security was arguably the biggest issue. However, equality for minorities and unemployment also played on voters’ minds.

    A Sri Lankan woman holds up her inked finger after casting her ballot at a polling station in Colombo on August 17, 2015

    AFP

    Sri Lanka’s presidential election

    • 16 millionSri Lankans eligible to vote

    • 35Number of candidates vying for the top job

    • Two footLength of ballot paper

    • 74.32%Average turnout at previous votes

    Source: electionguide.org

    But the two candidates also promised something different on the international stage. Mr Rajapaksa said he planned to “restore relations” with Sri Lanka’s top lender, China, if he wins the election. This may have been controversial in some circles, due to concerns over the size of Sri Lankan debt to the Asian superpower.

    Mr Premadasa, meanwhile, was seen as leaning more towards India and the US.

    When will we know the results?

    There was only one round in the election but voters could choose up to three candidates in order of preference. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the winner among the top two is determined after tallying the second preferences of voters.

    Results are expected on Sunday if one candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, but flooding in three of the 22 electoral districts disrupted counting, and could delay the results.

    If there is no clear winner and second preferences need to be counted, then the results will arrive on Monday.

    0 comments

    Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    • Dukaj: Male stvari učinjene s ljubavlju mijenjaju svijet
      on 06/12/2025 at 20:14

      Male stvari, učinjene s velikom ljubavlju, mijenjaju svijet, poručio je ministar javne uprave Maraš Dukaj na Međunarodnom diplomatskom humanitarnom bazaru, koji je danas organizovan u Podgorici.

    • Abazović: Katnić i dalje iznosi neistine, "budvanska grupa" procesuirana za vrijeme 43. Vlade
      on 06/12/2025 at 10:37

      Predsjednik Građanskog pokreta URA Dritan Abazović rekao je da su tokom mandata Vlade na čijem je čelu bio uhapšene sve osobe iz budvanskog “škaljarskog klana”, za koje ga je bivši glavni specijalni tužilac Milivoje Katnić optuživao da je tražio poštedu. Dodao je i da o ozbiljnosti Katnića najbolje govore njegovi raniji hvalospjevi upućeni visokopozicioniranim saradnicima “kavačkog klana”.

    • Milatović: Knežević još nije izašao iz Vlade, a ka'će ne znamo
      on 06/12/2025 at 09:17

      Predsjednik države Jakov Milatović je istakao da lista bivšeg DF-a koju je na parlamentarnim izborima predvodio upravo Milan Knežević ima 13 poslanika u Skupštini i u potpunosti kontroliše postupke Vlade Crne Gore, i upravo od njih zavisi izgradnja kolektora u Botunu.

    • Ćuković: Odlazak Janovića pokazuje koliko je DPS nesposoban za reforme
      on 06/12/2025 at 06:31

      Svega dvadesetak dana nakon što je Demokratsku partiju socijalista napustila Drita Lola, juče je to učinio i Nikola Janović, koji će za razliku od nje zadržati poslanički mandat. Kaže da mimoilaženja sa partijom traju mjesecima, ako ne i godinama. Ocjenjuje da je potrebno da političari izađu iz kandži stranaka i stranačkih oligarha, te da pokažu više ljudskog integriteta. Analitičar Aleksandar Ćuković ističe da odlazak Janovića u pogledu glasova nije politički opasan za DPS, ali jeste simbolički jer pokazuje koliko je ta partija kruta i, kako kaže, nesposobna za reforme.  

    • URA: Pokažite dokument ili javno saopštite da odustajete od njega
      on 05/12/2025 at 22:16

      Građanski pokret URA nastavio je sa optužbama na račun Vlade i saopštio da su predstavnici državnih kompanija dolazili u zgradu Vlade i potpisivali tajno sporazum sa sa investitorima Adriatic Properties, Aidway Investment Limited i Amanresorts menagment. Pozvali su Vladu da pokaže dokument ili javno saopšti da odustaje od njega.

    • Batuta: Koalicija u Kotoru načelno dogovorena, nije bilo razgovora o funkcijama
      on 05/12/2025 at 18:38

      Kotor će napokon dobiti vlast koja će voditi opštinu do prijevremeih lokalnih izbora 2027. Opštinska izborna komisija utvrdila je i rezultate na lokalnim izborima održanim 29. septembra 2024. Nosilac Grbaljske liste Vojin Batuta da je koalicija načelno dogovorena, ali da još nijesu početi razgovori o podjeli funkcija.

    • Nastavak rada u ulozi nezavisnih poslanika stara praksa
      on 05/12/2025 at 18:37

      Praksa napuštanja partija i nastavak rada u parlamentu u ulozi nezavisnih poslanika, nije nova. Novina je što se prvi put od 2006. to desilo u Demokratskoj partiji socijalista koju je napustio Nikola Janović. Prethodno je to učinila i Drita Lola, ali je ona svoj mandat vratila stranci. (slike lola i janović)

    • Ivanović u Berlinu: Precizniji vremenski okvir jača povjerenje u proces proširenja
      on 05/12/2025 at 17:07

      Precizno definisanje vremenskog okvira za prijem novih članica u Evropsku uniju, na liniji pristupa zasnovanog na zaslugama, dodatno bi osnažilo motivaciju građana i ukupnu stabilnost evropske integracije, kazao je potpredsjednik Vlade za vanjske i evropske poslove Filip Ivanović. On je učestvovao je u Berlinu na panel-diskusiji „Kreiranje budućnosti Zapadnog Balkana: osnaživanje kreatora sjutrašnjice“, u okviru Desetog ambasadorskog foruma o Zapadnom Balkanu u organizaciji Fondacije Konrad Adenauer.

    • Vuković: Tekst Rezolucije o EU integraciji predstavićemo narednog petka
      on 05/12/2025 at 15:14

      Tekst Rezolucije o evropskoj integraciji Crne Gore biće objavljen narednog petka, nakon što svi poslanici budu upoznati sa sadržinom tog dokumenta, kako bi dobio podršku svih u parlamentu, rekao je predsjednik Odbora za evropske integracije Ivan Vuković.

    • Dukaj: Profesionalizacija kadra ključ napretka ka EU
      on 05/12/2025 at 15:11

      Modernizacija javne uprave jedan je od važnih elemenata za ubrzanje evropskih reformi, poručio je ministar javne uprave Maraš Dukaj, nakon dvodnevne posjete Briselu.

    • Tenzije između SAD i Venecuele uslovile rast cijene nafte
      on 06/12/2025 at 07:50

      Cijena nafte porasle su u petak na međunarodnim tržištima na 64 dolara, uz nagađanja ulagača da bi smanjeno snabdijevanje iz Venecuele, u slučaju američke vojne intervencije, natjeralo kineske i američke rafinerije u potragu za zamjenom.

    • UNFAO: Cijene hrane pale i u novembru
      on 06/12/2025 at 07:23

      Cijene hrane pale su i u novembru, treći mjesec zaredom, uz izrazitije pojeftinjenje mlijeka i mliječnih proizvoda i biljnih ulja, saopštila je agencija Ujedinjenih nacija za hranu i poljoprivredu (UNFAO).

    • Spajićev kabinet: Abazović zlonamjerno dezinformiše crnogorsku javnost
      on 05/12/2025 at 20:10

      Povodom tvrdnji gospodina Dritana Abazovića o navodnom „tajnom ugovoru“ sa kompanijama „Adriatic Properties“ i „Aman“, iz Kabineta predsjednika Vlade Milojka Spajića obavještavaju javmost da Vlada nije potpisala nikakav dokument, niti je riječ o „ekskluzivi“, kako je želi predstaviti bivši premijer.

    • Đukanović: Učinićemo sve da se cijena električne energije ne mijenja  
      on 05/12/2025 at 18:44

      Predsjednik Odbora direktora EPCG Milutin Đukanović saopštio je u emisiji "Okvir" na TVCG da će Elektroprivreda učiniti sve da se cijena električne energije ne promijeni. Govoreći o Termoelektrani Pljevlja, istakao je da je nakon što je otklonjen kvar ponovo puštena u probni rad 3. decembra. Predsjednik Odbora direktora REGAGEN Veljko Vasiljević istakao je da Crna Gora ne može da funkcioniše bez eletktrične energije koju proizvodi TE Pljevlja. Predsjednik GO SDP i predstavnik Evropskog saveza  Mirko Stanić upozorio je da će ovim EPCG godinu završiti sa minusom od 100 miliona eura.

    • Crnoj Gori 46,1 milion eura iz višegodišnjeg IPA programa
      on 05/12/2025 at 14:31

      Ministarka evropskih poslova Maida Gorčević potpisala je danas Finansijski sporazum o višegodišnjem IPA programu od ove do 2027. godine, kojim je za Crnu Goru opredijeljeno 46,1 milion eura, od čega je doprinos Evropske unije 45 miliona eura.

    • Crna Gora ubrzava usklađivanje s EU i modernizuje platne sisteme
      on 05/12/2025 at 10:43

      Guvernerka Centralne banke (CBCG), Irena Radović, predstavila je na Samitu EU – Zapadni Balkan u Briselu ključne reformske iskorake Crne Gore, posebno ističući sprovođenje ubrzanog procesa usklađivanja sa pravnom tekovinom Unije i modernizaciju platnih sistema.

    • Poreska uprava naplatila 1,5 milijardi eura, nastavljen rast prihoda
      on 05/12/2025 at 09:34

      Trend rasta bruto prihoda nastavljen je i u novembru, poručuju iz Poreske uprave i navode da su za 11 mjeseci ove godine naplatili 1,5 milijardi eura, čime je premašen plan i ostvaren rast u odnosu na isti period lani.

    • Poslije novog zaduženja od 450 miliona eura slijedi stezanje kaiša
      on 04/12/2025 at 20:18

      Zajam od 450 miliona po kamati od 4,5% skupo je zaduženje za državu. Ocijenio je za Radio Crne Gore ekonomski analitičar Davor Dokić. Smatra da nam zbog vraćanja u naredne dvije godine gotovo milijardu i šest stotina miliona ranih dugova predstoji stezanje kaiša, rast javnog duga, kontrolisana javna potrošnja i povratak na realnu ekonomiju.

    • Usvojeni predlozi zakona u cilju zatvaranja pregovaračkog poglavlja 2
      on 04/12/2025 at 15:56

      Vlada je na današnjoj sjednici usvojila niz predloga zakona, među kojima su predlozi o dopunama Zakona o parničnom postupku i o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o mirnom rješavanju radnih sporova, a sve kako bi se olakšalo ostvarivanje prava radnicima u kontekstu slobode kretanja, u cilju zatvaranja pregovaračkog poglavlja 2 - Sloboda kretanja radnika. Cilj je da se stranim državljanima omogući jednak pristup sudskoj zaštiti kao i ostvarivanje prava pred Agencijom za mirno rješavanje radnih sporova.

    • Za deset mjeseci prihod od igara na sreću veći za gotovo 30 odsto nego u istom periodu 2024.
      on 04/12/2025 at 12:20

      Uprava za igre na sreću saopštava da su ukupni prihodi od igara na sreću za period januar - novembar 2025. godine iznosili 39.220.307 eura, što predstavlja povećanje od 29,56 odsto u odnosu na isti period prethodne godine. Posebno se ističu rezultati za novembar, sa ostvarenih 4.265.349 eura, što je rast od 40,71 odsto u odnosu na isti mjesec 2024. godine.