Presidential election and the Pope

The presidential election was held on 8th Jan.
The election system is Direct Election in Sri Lanka.
Due to this system, the government suddenly requested to all organization and companies that the day is treaded as paid holiday.

Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, incumbent minister of health, run against Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, incumbent president. Mr. Maithripala Sirisena had belonged to the same political party as incumbent president’s one, but he left from there and established new one. This was practically revolt against his boss.

On 9th Jan., the result was announced and Mr. Maithripala Sirisena won.
It was a close election, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena got 51.28% and Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa got 47.58%.

Since we had been afraid of the wild party by the supporters to the winner and protestant by the supporter to the loser, we set the day as a holiday in haste to guarantee security of staffs. But there was no big incident because the former president stated the defeat soon and left from his post. It seems Sri Lankans accepted the result solemnly and silently.
The voting rate was 81.52%. The late of Lower House election in Japan on Dec. 2014 was 52.66% and it’s ashamed as Japanese.

From 13th to 15th Jan, the Pope came to Sri Lanka. On 14th, he visited Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu at Manner District in North on 14th. Religions in Sri Lanka are Buddhism(70%), Hindu(12%), Islam(10%) and Christian(7%). Manner District was Catholic are and it is said that it was influenced in the period of the Portugal colonial rule. On 13th, the government announced 14th was added to public holiday. So it became a series of holiday as 15th is holiday originally.

This is comment from Sri Lanka had many big events and holidays.

Administration and Finance Officer: Tomoo Nasuda

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