Wickramasinghe urges Sri Lankans to unite and usher in new leader

President Rajapaksa deserved full credit for ending terrorism in the country, said the UNP leader

United National Party leader Ranil Wickramasinghe. File photo: AP

Leader of Opposition and the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickramasinghe called upon all Sri Lankans to join hands and usher in their new leader. Addressing the first media briefing on Friday, just as joint Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena’s victory became imminent, he urged people not to resort to any violence or political revenge. “Let there be peace.”

Mr. Sirisena, he said, would be sworn in as the country’s president on Friday evening. On his early morning meeting with President Mahidna Rajapaksa, he said: “He said he was waiting to hand over office to his successor.” President Rajapaksa, he said, deserved full credit for ending terrorism in the country.