MR rejects reports of influencing poll results

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today rejected reports of attempts to use the military to influence election results and said he had always accepted people’s verdict throughout his political carrier.

“I deny in the strongest terms the reports of attempts to use the military to influence election results. During decades in politics, I have always bowed to the people's verdict. Wins and losses are a natural part of political life,” Mr. Rajapaksa tweeted this morning.

He said he accepted the outcome of the election long before the final official results were released and congratulated new President Maithripala Sirisena.