<p>Sajith Premadasa has resigned as deputy leader of the United National Party (UNP) following his defeat in the Sri Lankan presidential election. </p>
<p>In his statement, Sajith congratulated Gotabaya Rajapaksa "on his election as the seventh President of Sri Lanka" and urged him to "ensure that the post-election environment is peaceful, and that no citizen or New Democratic Front (NDF) party supporter is persecuted or harmed for their role in supporting" Sajith's candidacy. </p>
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