**The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s new six-year term of office will begin in November 2010.**The president had wanted his new term to begin in 2011 although he called elections two years early to capitalise on his defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels.
He won 57.8% of votes, compared to 40% for his main rival, Gen Sarath Fonseka.
Gen Fonseka was army chief when government forces defeated separatist rebels after 26 years of civil war.
Correspondents say that despite the fact he wanted his new term of office to start later, the court ruling is a boost for him.
His new tenure will effectively be six years and nine months instead of the designated six years.
“The Supreme Court says the new term begins on 19 November this year,” an official in the president’s office told the AFP news agency.
The court’s decision means that President Rajapaksa will remain in power until 2016.