Fonseka's birthplace gave President over 73 percent at SPC elections

In the 2005 Presidential election President Mahinda Rajapaksa won with 50.3 percent of the votes. That was before the war was concluded.

Today, after the successful conclusion of the war and restoration of peace and security, a much larger number of voters are awaiting to re-elect the President for another term, said former parliamentarian M.M. Zuhair, PC.

He said, his victory is therefore certain and will be a convincing one crossing over 60 percent. Zuhair, P.C., was speaking to several delegations from Maligawatte, Grandpass and Aluthkade met him on Saturday to discuss the upcoming Presidential Election.

Zuhair said the voters of Sri Lanka were a grateful people. They showed their gratitude to the President at the recently concluded Provincial Council elections.

In six of the eight PC elections held before the end of the war, the UPFA won with an average of over 60 percent majority. In the two PC elections held in Uva and Southern Provinces after the war ended, the UPFA won with an average of over 70 percent of the votes.

The Ambalangoda electorate, the birthplace of Opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka, gave the ruling party the highest percentage of 73 percent at the Southern Provincial Council election held only two months back. Ambalangoda will very likely give the highest majority to President Rajapaksa once again on January 26, he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's popularity has grown from above 50 percent to over 60 per cent and then crossed 70 percent.

This is the first time that the President himself is seeking the votes for his own candidature.

The people of Sri Lanka are awaiting anxiously to return him to the Presidency with the highest majority in history.

The Opposition Leader declined to contest because he was aware of his defeat. The Opposition candidate is contesting purely out of personal displeasures with his former Commander-in-Chief, knowing well that he (Fonseka) would be defeated, Zuhair added.