UPFA wins Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Councils comprehensively

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) swept saturday’s elections to North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces winning all 27 electorates in the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura and Kegalle districts.

The Sabaragamuwa Province elected 25 UPFA members (including two bonus seats) against seven UNP and two JVP. The UPFA polled 260,218 and 212,571 votes in Ratnapura and Kegalle districts respectively while the UNP managed 191,996 and 154,325 votes in Ratnapura and Kegalle districts. The JVP polled a mere 19,068 votes in the entire province.

landslide victory an overwhelming endorsement of the ongoing military campaign to defeat the LTTE, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said.

“It was a referendum on the war against terror. The vast majority of people also appreciated the development work undertaken by the government despite spiralling defence costs. The increase in the price of paddy, tea and rubber, too, contributed to the victory.”

The CWC which contested the two provinces on its own despite being part of the Rajapaksa administration had failed to secure a single seat while the Up country People’s Front which contested Ratnapura District, too, ended up without a single seat.