UPFA in hat-trick of victories

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) scored a resounding victory at Saturday’s North Central, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections, in what is seen by many political observers as an endorsement of the government’s socio – economic development programmes and a rejection of communal politics propagated by certain Opposition parties.

The UPFA victory especially in the former war torn Eastern Province, is seen by political analysts as a slap in the face of some Opposition parties which sought to gain cheap political mileage by trying to create divisions among ethnic and religious groups during the run up to the poll.

Observers said people through their verdict also had clearly rejected Opposition parties’ attempts at using the prevailing drought in the North Central and parts of the East for cheap political gain.

They said the UNP’s dismal performance and a near total erosion of the JVP vote bank, the so- called third force in Sri Lankan politics at one time, were once again strikingly exposed at this election.

The observers said people’s confidence and trust in President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government was once again clearly shown in the results where the UPFA recorded comfortable victories in all three provinces.

The final results showed the UPFA winning 63 seats (including the two bonus seats each in the three provinces) out of 114.

The UPFA polled 102,7310 votes in the three provinces a majority of 469,425 over its closest rival the United National Party (UNP).

The UNP won 29 seats in the three provinces, with ITAK (11), SLMC (seven), CWC (two), JVP (one) and NFF (one) being the other parties which were able to secure slots in the councils. The UPFA was able to record comfortable victories in all electorates in the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provinces. The party won five out of seven districts.

The Illangai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) won the Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts in the Eastern Province.

The National Freedom Front (NFF) which contested elections for the first time won one seat in the Trincomalee district while former comrades, the JVP too won one.

In the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provinces, the UPFA improved both its vote tally and seats in comparison to the last PC polls in 2008.

In North Central Province, the UPFA received 61.23 percent of the votes cast winning 21 seats, while in 2008 it got only 56.37 percent with 20 seats. In Sabaragamuwa, the UPFA polled 59.18 percent of the votes winning 28 seats and in 2008 the Party polled 56.34 percent winning 25 seats.

This year, the UPFA’s highest return of votes was recorded from the Balangoda electorate where it obtained 67.29 percent of the votes cast.