President Wins National Election

Initial ballot results announced on 27 January 2010 indicate that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa won a hotly contested national election. State television news reports claim that Rajapaksa won 58 percent of the overall vote. Challenger and former General Sarath Fonseka reportedly received only 40 percent of the ballots in what was expected to be a close election race. Fonseka plans to challenge the election results. Unconfirmed surveys indicated that voter turnout was around 70 percent. Hours before the initial election results were announced, Sri Lankan military troops surrounded the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo, where Fonseka and several other opposition leaders were staying. Roads near the hotel have been blocked off to all traffic. Fonseka allegedly sought out diplomatic help from unnamed foreign envoys, fearing that the soldiers may try to arrest him. Opposition supporters claim that the military has prevented Fonseka from leaving the hotel. The military believes that hundreds of army deserters are staying at the hotel. Thus far, there have been few significant reports of violence since the announcement of the election results. A grenade attack in a Buddhist temple killed at least two people in the central town of Gampola, which is located 75 mi/120 km east of Colombo. Authorities suspect that the attack was politically motivated and a curfew has been imposed in the area. There is a heightened risk of further violent incidents if there is a protracted dispute over the validity of the election results.