Peaceful transition of power in SL

Sri Lankans have elected Maithripala Sirisena as the new Executive President of Sri Lanka, in a free, fair and peaceful election with a high voter turnout rate. The defeat of once entrenched and invincible incumbent President Mahindra Rajapakse, and his submission to the people's will show that democracy has prevailed in Sri Lanka.

Rajapakse, flagged for his oppressive policies against the Tamil community, and for his authoritarian stance, especially for his suppression of the opposition and curtailment of media freedom, was seeking a third term in office after he changed the constitution to scrap the two-term limit. He had called the presidential elections two years early banking on a comfortable victory against a fractured opposition.

Despite his prior record of authoritarianism and corruption, that he allowed the election and transfer of power to take place peacefully goes to his credit. This, in essence, is what democracy is all about. The vindication of popular will, in spite of daunting odds, and working of electoral institutions are a good augury for the whole region.

Though Rajapakse has gracefully left the arena, the allegations of wartime rights abuses brought against him may stalk him and only time can tell whether he will answer for them.

The new president of a country once fraught with ethnic rift faces the formidable task of building bridges, both among communities in Sri Lanka and with the world at large. We welcome Maithripala Sirisena on his assumption of office and hope that he introduces progressive policies and reinvigorates regional cooperation, in which Bangladesh is a co-traveller.