Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa concedes defeat

Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa has conceded defeat in the country’s presidential election, saying he would oversee a peaceful transition of power.

Initial results gave his former health minister-turned-opposition challenger Mithripala Sirisena an unassailable lead with over 52.49 percent of the vote, compared to 46.21 percent for the outgoing president.