Associated Press 29/01/2010

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa pledged Thursday to seek reconciliation with minority Tamils after his sweeping re-election, but did not indicate how he plans to deal with their demands for greater rights.

Critics said the balloting showed the country's ethnic divisions that fueled decades of war were again near a breaking point, with many minorities apparently voting for the opposition or staying away from the polls.

Rajapaksa won a second term in office Tuesday, defeating his former army chief by 17 percentage points in the first presidential election since his government defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels and brought an end to decades of war.

The opposition candidate, former army chief Sarath Fonseka, cried foul. He said the government had manipulated the results and said he will challenge the results in court.

The United States congratulated Rajapaksa on his victory. A U.S. Embassy statement also urged authorities to ensure the safety of all candidates and campaign workers.

Read more