Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya officially announced that Common Candidate of the opposition Maithripala Sirisena has been elected as the new President of Sri Lanka.

He made this formal announcement at the Elections Department in the presence of presidential candidates who contested the election and representatives of political parties.

He extended gratitude to all the candidates who contested the election, and especially to outgoing President Mahinda Rajapaksa who took measures to hold a peaceful election.

The Commissioner expressed hopes that the newly elected President will live up to the expectations of the people who voted for him.

President elect Maithripala Sirisena, speaking at the event, also thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his commitment to ensure a peaceful election

The newly elected Presdident is to take oaths before Supreme court Judge K. Sri Pawan at Independence Square this evening at 6 pm.