2010 Sri Lankan presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Sri Lanka on 26 January 2010. The elections were announced on 23 November 2009 when incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to seek a fresh mandate prior to the expiration of his term in 2011. Nominations were accepted on 17 December 2009.

2010 Sri Lankan presidential election
26 January 2010 (2010-01-26)
Turnout74.50%
 
Nominee Mahinda Rajapaksa Sarath Fonseka
Party SLFP NDF
Alliance UPFA –
Popular vote 6,015,934 4,173,185
Percentage 57.88% 40.15%
polling divisions won by

  – Mahinda Rajapaksa

  – Sarath Fonseka
President before election

Mahinda Rajapaksa
SLFP

 Elected President

Mahinda Rajapaksa
SLFP

Rajapaksa, who was elected president for a 6-year term in November 2005, was the candidate of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance. General Sarath Fonseka, a former commander of the Sri Lankan Army, was his main opponent in the election. Fonseka had been endorsed by a number of main opposition parties, including the United National Party and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

President Rajapaksa proceeded to win re-election, over 57% of all votes cast. Fonseka received over 40%, carrying the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. The remaining twenty candidates all garnered less than 0.5% of the popular vote.

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