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by the Daily News Election Desk

By electing the United National Party to office in 217 of the 222 Local Bodies for which elections were held yesterday the people have given a massive mandate for the peace process initiated by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNF Government.

The UNP received over 66 percent of the vote while the Sihala Urumaya which was campaigning against the Ceasefire Agreement received less than one percent of the vote. Even the JVP which went on a head-on offensive against the agreement had its vote sizeably reduced.

People have totally ignored the dissenting voices raised by certain quarters and endorsed the peace program and the humanitarian reforms undertaken by the UNF Government.

The UNP returned 2109 members, the PA 917, JVP 189 and others 69.

The People's Alliance was completely routed in its strongholds. It won only the tiny Urban Councils of Haputale and the Pradeshiya Sabhas of Ayagama, Neluwa and Katana - which the UNP did not contest after its nominations were rejected.

The magnitude of the PA defeat was underlined by its surrender of the Pradeshiya Sabha of Attanagalle, the Bandaranaike seat of power. The UNP landslide also crushed the PA at Gampaha, Dompe and Mahara, which were former PA strongholds.

In a surprising development, the JVP which was trailing behind the major parties secured the Tissamaharamaya Pradeshiya Sabha winning it by over 1,000 votes.

Five election related murders were reported since the handing over of nominations. Of them, four were reported on the polling day itself and the day before the election, the Police Elections Secretariat said. Murders were reported from Matale, Chilaw, Beruwala and Kurunegala.

A total of 704 election related acts of violence -including 190 on the election day itself- were reported since nominations day. The highest number of incidents were reported from Gampaha (83).

Many Political Parties and other independent organisations yesterday said that if President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga constituted the CC prior to the local polls, election violence would have been minimised.

The PAFFREL reported 202 incidents on polls day alone. "However, only a few major incidents happened and most of other incidents were minor," Executive Director Kingsley Rodrigo told the Daily News.

General Secretary of the SLFP Maithreepala Sirisena commenting on their humiliating defeat at the Local Polls said that the UNP conducted this poll just after three months after the General Election because the UNP still has the political 'wave' in the country.

He said that UNPers killed PA supporters, threatened people to prevent them from voting in areas where the PA was strong and collected polling cards. These acts were a great disadvantage to the PA. He said that even if there are 10 Constitutional Councils, democracy will not work properly unless the political parties maintained discipline.

Large-scale intimidation and state-sponsored thuggery created by unruly political elements in their respective areas brought this unexpected victory for the UNP at yesterday's Local Government elections, Sihala Urumaya Champika Ranawaka said.

Although we are confident over the winning of two seats at Mirigama and Katana we are quite sure that people who voted against the Government showed their disapproval for the bogus peace process.

Mr. Ranawaka also said that it was a common thing that political parties in the power won almost all local elections held in the country even in the past.

Tilak Karunaratna of the Sihala Urumaya said that even if the Constitutional Councils are brought in, powerful politicians will continue their acts of violence even at future elections.

Media Spokesman of the Sihala Urumaya Udaya Gammanpila said that they are happy with the election results. But that was intimidation. When asked whether acts of intimidation and violence would have been minimised if the Constitutional Council existed, he said that the SU did not vote for the passage of the 17th Amendment. "There are enough laws in the country but we have to change the attitude of the people," he said.

LSSP General Secretary and former minister Batty Weerakoon, speaking of the PA defeat, said that the party failed to take a clear stand on the peace process and this left its supporters guessing.

The PA also failed to confront the UNP on the economic front. It failed to warn the voters of the danger of the UNP following the open economy even more stringently than it had during its previous 17 year rule and of the UNP's ulterior motive in holding the election before the budget. He said the PA leadership was paralysed during the election campaign and this left its supporters in the lurch.

ACTC General Secretary A. Vinayagamurathi said most people want peace. The UNP victory endorses their wish for peace. It is obvious that the Sinhala and Tamil people want peace and they have reiterated it through the Local Council Elections.

Expressing his opinion on the election being postponed in the North and East, Mr.Vinayagamurathi, said that the atmosphere is still not suitable for elections. "People have to be settled first and measures must be taken to create stable living conditions. Once this is done there will be a good response."

The JVP said that it has taken several steps forward at this Local Government Election. For the first time the JVP has been able to gain control of one local government institution.

Considering the short duration the JVP has been engaged in rebuilding the party since 1994 facing severe curbs, this is a historic victory for the JVP, a JVP news release said. In 1997, only 101 JVP members were elected. According to the results, the JVP has been able to get more seats this time.

The release said the UNP has added another bad experience to the Sri Lankan election history through this local Government election. The UNP planned violent acts in areas in which the opposition parties have a wider vote base. It said this election was full of malpractices and violence which claimed 4 lives. The people took only a lethargic interest in this election.

Member of The Sri Lankan Law Commission and social scientist Dr Jayatissa de Costa commenting on the UNP's outstanding victory, said the people had endorsed the upright stance and honesty of the Prime Minister on the peace process.

He also said the people who voted for the JVP at the last general election did so as a protest vote against the PA. They had now clearly moved away from the party and opted for the UNP instead, preferring a party that wields power. 

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