Former Sri Lankan defense minister Gottaphaya Rajapaksa has won the presidential election on Saturday, the election commission said. He is due to be sworn in on Monday in the southern city of Anurad Habura.
Rajapaksa, 70, was sworn in in the holy city of Buddhists, emphasizing his election platform in which he adopted the rule of Buddhist Sinhalese culture in the country.
The former defense minister launched a national campaign focusing on security following attacks on Christian churches on April 21 that killed 269 people.
The government blames Sri Lankans linked to a radical Islamist group.
Some Sri Lankan Muslims fear the repercussions of Rajapaksa's victory, especially amid being subjected to mass attacks following the attacks.
The following is the most important information available about the new president:
Gotabaya Rajapaksa was born on 2 June 1949 in Balatua, Matara Province.
- Received primary and secondary education at the Ananda Institute in Colombo.
- He grew up in a political family, where his father held several positions in the state, was also a member of parliament and an independent political activist in the country.
- Joined the Sri Lankan Army in 1971 to 1992 and reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
- He completed his higher education and obtained a master's degree in defense studies from the University of Madras in 1983. He also obtained a degree in information technology from the University of Colombo in 1992.
- In 1998, he emigrated with his family to the United States, then returned to Sri Lanka in 2005 when his brother Mahinda won the presidency.
In the same year, he was appointed Minister of Defense and Urban Development and remained in office until 2015.
- One of the most prominent things he has done to end Sri Lanka's civil war after 30 years of conflict with Tamil rebels, and is considered a majority Sinhalese national hero.