Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa leaves official residence – Update 02

Jan 09, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa has left Temple Trees following a brief discussion with the opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe on Friday morning, a senior official at the opposition leader’s office said. They have discussed matters about the smooth transition of power, Saman Athaudahetti told LBO.

The elections department has already released over 40 percent of the results of total number of poling divisions in the island and all the results of postal votes.

Common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena is currently ahead of his main opponent presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa, official data released by the election department showed.

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya is yet to announce final official results.

Article 94 of the island’s constitution deals with the election of president.

The article is reproduced below.

94. (1) At the election of the President every voter while casting his vote for any candidate may

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (a) where there are three candidates for election, specify his second preference; and

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (b) where there are more than three candidates for election, specify his second and