Profile: Mahinda Rajapaksa

The victor in Sri Lanka's presidential elections, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is a Buddhist lawyer who is described on his website as "a rebel with a cause".

Legal eagle: Mr Rajapaksa is known as a left-of-centre Buddhist

The cause with which he has been associated longest is that of the Sinhala community of southern Sri Lanka, into which he was born 60 years ago.

The southern Sinhalas first voted for Mr Rajapaksa in 1970, making him - then aged 24 - the country's youngest ever parliamentarian.

Analysts say their support helped him become prime minister, beating his rival, Lakshman Kadirgamar, the former foreign minister who was assassinated in August.

Compromise candidate

Mr Rajapaksa, who represents Chandrika Kumaratunga's Sri Lanka Freedom Party, is seen as a man of the masses.

"He comes accross as the homegrown country boy (to the poor farmers and fishermen) whom they feel comfortable with," analyst Jehan Perera told the Associated Press.

Mr Rajapaksa comes from a political family - his father, DA Rajapaksa, represented the same region of Hambantota from 1947 to 1965.

As labour minister, Mr Rajapaksa tried to push through legislation to guarantee the rights of workers - but failed after complaints from big businesses.

While in charge of fisheries and ports, he became popular for his scheme to find new housing for slum-dwelling fishermen.

Until his appointment as prime minister, he was opposition leader in parliament.

He is a member of the governing coalition United People's Freedom Alliance. It won most seats in the general election, but not enough to gain a majority.

Hardline stance

When he became prime minister, he was seen as someone who favoured a negotiated settlement with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

But after signing a poll deal with two nationalist parties, his stance has become increasingly hardline.

He launched his campaign for the presidency by rejecting the rebels' demands for Tamil autonomy.

He has also vowed to review the 2002 ceasefire with the rebels and also indicated that Norway will no longer play a role as a peace broker.

His election also casts further doubt over a tsunami aid deal reached between Mrs Kumaratunga and the Tamil Tigers over the thorny subject of how to distribute international aid money to tsunami victims.

Mr Rajapaksa promised to tear up the deal - that would result in further delays in funds reaching the tsunami victims.