Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa signs documents during his swearing-in ceremony at the sacred Kelaniya Raja Maha Buddhist temple, outside the capital Colombo on August 9, 2020. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)

COLOMBO - Leader of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party Mahinda Rajapaksa took his oath as the nation's new prime minister on Sunday after his party secured a landslide victory in the recently concluded parliamentary election.

Rajapaksa was sworn in as the prime minister of the country for the 4th time

Rajapaksa took oaths during a grand ceremony at Kelaniya Temple, a Buddhist temple on the outskirts of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo in the presence of the diplomatic community and legislators from the ruling and opposition parties.

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Rajapaksa was sworn in as the prime minister of the country for the 4th time.

Rajapaksa's party won 145 seats in the Aug. 5 election which was held to elect new legislators in a 225-member parliament.

His new cabinet will take oaths later this week.

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According to the Elections Commission, the parliamentary election held last Wednesday was one of the most peaceful held in Sri Lankan history with a 71 percent voter turnout.

The election was held under strict health guidelines due to COVID-19 pandemic which has infected over 2,800 people in the country.

According to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the new parliament will convene on Aug 20.