A people's victory - Mahinda

STEPPING out of the Elections Secretariat soon after he was declared winner in the Presidential race Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse said this was a "people's victory" and he would stand by the people and work towards peace.

The victorious and emotional President-elect, before departing to celebrate his historic birthday gift, told reporters: "I would say this is a people's victory."

He paid tribute to all who helped him during this arduous election campaign including the media, which generally gave him a wide and positive coverage right throughout the campaign.

"This victory of the progressive masses would lead to a people's era. It brings back to me memories of the 1956 social transformation pioneered by late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and the service rendered to this country by leaders like my father D.A. Rajapakse, Sirimavo Bandaranaike and President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga," he said.

Rajapakse said that a majority of people by voting for him have endorsed the 'Mahinda Chinthana' as the national programme for rebuilding the country.

"I do not consider the powers of presidency as privileges. I will never breach the confidence placed upon me by the people," he said.

He also urged the people to celebrate this victory peacefully without causing any physical or verbal harassment to the opponents. UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe was absent at the conference. -MF