•  Maithripala Sirisena urges citizens to keep peaceful trend going post-poll
•  Hails police and Elections Commission for job well done

President Maithripala Sirisena hailed yesterday’s parliamentary election as the most peaceful in the country’s history and urged citizens to keep the positive trend going post-poll.

President Sirisena attributed the peaceful election to the transformation in the country as a result of the past six months of his yahapalanaya rule.

“The people remember how the former Government behaved during the 8 January election, the way it abused state property, state power and the state media during that campaign,” President Sirisena recalled.

He said the main lesson to learn from the peacefulness of this election was that it was possible only when the Head of State remains acts neutrally during an election campaign.

“I am extremely pleased to have been President at a time when Sri Lanka has been able to hold such a poll for the first time in its history,” he said.  

He urged calm in the post-election period.

“Let’s keep this trend going. Enjoy the results equally peacefully and without engaging in post-election violence. Do not persecute the defeated, either mentally or physically,” President Sirisena appealed.

Addressing the nation at 9 PM, five hours after polls closed on a remarkably quiet election day, President Sirisena said that it had been impossible to hold free, fair and just elections as long as the police and bureaucracy remained in the grasp of political forces.

“This historic election has been made possible because of Good Governance policies, and the decision to stay neutral and allow the police and the public service and the Elections Commissioner to exercise their full powers under the law,” the President said during his address.

Thanking the Elections Department and all officials cooperating in election work, President Sirisena said they had his ‘full gratitude and respect’ for their dedication towards holding a free and fair poll.

“International observers could not believe how peaceful this election was,” the President said. (DB)