World
Rajapaksa admits defeat, Modi hails Sirisena win
Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday conceded defeat in the presidential election after officials indicated a landslide win for joint opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Stunned by the setback in an election he called two years ahead of schedule anticipating a win, Rajapaksa did not make any public comment but an aide said he had accepted defeat.
Rajakpaksa’s press officer said the president “concedes defeat and will ensure a smooth transition of power bowing to the wishes of the people”.
He said Rajapaksa had left his official residence and that the new leader of the island nation would be sworn in later Friday.
Official results will be known later Friday but Sirisena is expected to garner more than 50 percent of the over 11 million votes polled Thursday.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first world leaders to congratulate Sirisena.
“I spoke to Sirisena and congratulated him. I congratulate the people of Sri Lanka on the peaceful and democratic poll process,” he said in a statement in New Delhi.
“As a close friend and neighbour, I reaffirmed India’s continued solidarity and support for Sri Lanka’s peace, development and prosperity,” Modi added.
US Secretary of State John Kerry also hailed Sirisena’s victory and said he looked forward to working with his government as it builds “a Sri Lanka that is peaceful, inclusive, democratic and prosperous”.
Sirisena was the health minister in Rajapaksa’s cabinet before he dramatically defected to the opposition in November. That undid whatever hopes Rajapaksa had of retaining the presidency for a third term.
Wild celebrations erupted all across capital Colombo as it became known that Rajapaksa, who took power in November 2005, had accepted defeat. Many burst firecrackers and danced on the streets.
Sirisena spearheded a spirited challenge against the president, blaming him for corruption and nepotism and for promoting family rule.
Sirisena attracted support not only from the Sinhalese, the country’s majority community, but also from minorities including Tamils and Muslims.
Voting was high all around the island Thursday, including in the Tamil areas where the LTTE once held sway until it was militarily crushed in 2009 and its leadership wiped out.
A former prime minister, Rajapaksa was first elected the president in 2005, defeating Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party, and in 2010 when he defeated his former army chief Sarath Fonseka.
Fonseka was later jailed on charges of implicating the government in war crimes.
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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