‘Terminator’ Rajapaksa, brother of Sri Lanka’s China-friendly strongman, wins election

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, 70, whose brother Mahinda had close ties with Beijing during his 10-year rule, ran as the candidate for the Sri Lanka Podujana Party

The Rajapaksas are adored by Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese majority, but detested and feared by many Tamils

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SLPP party presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (second from left) and his brother, former Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapaksa (second from right) wave at supporters during a campaign rally in Homagama, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:41am, 17 Nov 2019Updated: 10:48pm, 17 Nov 2019

The brother of a former president who tilted Sri Lanka toward a deep reliance on China clinched victory on Sunday in a tightly-fought presidential election, as voting showed the country remains divided down ethnic lines.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa won 52.3 per cent of the votes, while ruling alliance candidate Sajith Premadasa had 42 per cent at the final count, according to the Election Commission of Sri Lanka. There were a record 35 candidates in the election.

Rajapaksa, 70, a former defence official whose brother, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa had close ties with Beijing during his 10-year rule, is revered by Sri Lanka’s ethnic majority for his role in ending a bloody civil war but feared by minorities for his brutal approach.

He secured his victory by capturing votes in Sinhala-Buddhist southern provinces, while Premadasa had large majorities in the Tamil-dominated north.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at a campaign rally. Photo: AFP

“It is my privilege to honour the decision of the people and congratulate Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his election as the seventh President of Sri Lanka,” Premadasa said, conceding defeat.