The United States yesterday congratulated Mahinda Rajapaksa on his victory at the November 17 Presidential Election and commended Sri Lankans who "peacefully exercised their democratic rights and responsibilities".

"We remain committed to maintaining the historically close ties between our two countries," a press release from the US Department of State in Washington DC said.

Adam Ereli, deputy spokesman for the US Department of State said: "The United States looks forward to working with President Rajapaksa as he confronts many significant and immediate challenges.

"These include the need to strengthen the Ceasefire Agreement and bring renewed vigour to the peace process so that progress may be made towards a negotiated solution that meets the aspirations of all Sri Lankans.

"The United States regrets that Tamil voters in the northern and eastern parts of the island did not vote in significant numbers due to a clear campaign of intimidation by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). As a result, a significant portion of Sri Lanka's people were deprived of the opportunity to make their views known.

"The United States condemns this LTTE interference in the democratic process."