Join Me In Building Sri Lanka: Gotabaya

New President appeals to minority Tamils and Muslims to work with him after being sworn in

- Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lanka’s new President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has urged minorities — who emphatically voted against him in the recent election — to work with him to build the country.

Mr. Gotabaya was sworn in on Monday, following a huge win in the November 16 presidential poll, with 52.25% votes.

Beating his main challenger Sajith Premadasa by a margin of more than 13 lakh votes, he paved the way for his family’s return to power, five years after his brother and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was dislodged from office.

Mr. Gotabaya succeeds President Maithripala Sirisena, who did not seek re-election.