2008–09 Sri Lankan provincial council elections
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417 seats across 8 provincial councils | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Turnout | 65.84% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Winners of polling divisions. UPFA in blue and UNP in green. |
Sri Lanka has held several rounds of Provincial Council elections in 2008 and 2009 to elect members to eight of the country’s Provincial Councils. The decision to hold elections in different parts of the country on separate days was a break in the usual practice, which is to hold elections for the whole country on the same day. For each provincial council, members are elected to serve a five-year term. A chief minister for the province is chosen by the elected members.
The first
The elections were largely seen as a referendum on the handling of the
Background
In an attempt to end the
The Indo-Lanka Accord also required the merger of the Eastern and Northern provinces into one
On 1 March 1990, just as the
The 2nd Sri Lankan provincial council election was held in 1993 in seven provinces. The UNP retained control of six provincial councils but lost control of the largest provincial council, Western, to the opposition People's Alliance. A special election was held in Southern Province in 1994 after some UNP provincial councillors defected to the opposition. The PA won the election and took control of the Southern Provincial Council.[citation needed]
The
The
Results
The UPFA won all eight provinces.
Overall
Party / Alliance | Votes | % | Seats |
---|---|---|---|
United People's Freedom Alliance1 | 5,137,170 | 63.10% | 269 |
United National Party2 | 2,609,386 | 32.05% | 131 |
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna | 234,442 | 2.88% | 12 |
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress2 | 60,091 | 0.74% | 2 |
Independents |
15,789 | 0.19% | 0 |
Democratic Unity Alliance | 12,512 | 0.15% | 1 |
Up-Country People's Front | 10,645 | 0.13% | 1 |
Ceylon Workers' Congress1 | 10,163 | 0.12% | 0 |
United Socialist Party | 9,024 | 0.11% | 0 |
Tamil Democratic National Alliance |
7,714 | 0.09% | 1 |
United National Alliance | 7,098 | 0.09% | 0 |
Eelam People's Democratic Party | 5,418 | 0.07% | 0 |
Left Front |
4,771 | 0.06% | 0 |
National Development Front | 3,558 | 0.04% | 0 |
National Congress | 3,404 | 0.04% | 0 |
Eelavar Democratic Front |
2,275 | 0.03% | 0 |
Ruhuna People's Party | 1,618 | 0.02% | 0 |
United Lanka People's Party | 911 | 0.01% | 0 |
New Sinhala Heritage | 838 | 0.01% | 0 |
United Lanka Great Council | 803 | 0.01% | 0 |
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya |
700 | 0.01% | 0 |
Socialist Equality Party | 503 | 0.01% | 0 |
Sri Lanka Progressive Front | 475 | 0.01% | 0 |
Janasetha Peramuna | 306 | 0.00% | 0 |
People's Front of Liberation Tigers | 383 | 0.00% | 0 |
Patriotic National Front | 379 | 0.00% | 0 |
All Lanka Tamil United Front | 378 | 0.00% | 0 |
National People's Party | 302 | 0.00% | 0 |
Democratic United National Front | 107 | 0.00% | 0 |
Muslim Liberation Front | 49 | 0.00% | 0 |
Sri Lanka National Front |
30 | 0.00% | 0 |
Liberal Party |
20 | 0.00% | 0 |
Valid Votes | 8,141,262 | 100.00% | 417 |
Rejected Votes | 427,543 | ||
Total Polled | 8,568,805 | ||
Registered Electors | 13,013,731 | ||
Turnout | 65.84% | ||
1. CWC contested with the UPFA in Central and Uva provinces. 2. SLMC contested with the UNP in Eastern province. |
Central Province
Party | Kandy | Matale | Nuwara Eliya | Seats | Popular Vote | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | Seats | Votes | Seats | Votes | Seats | 2004 | 2009 | +/− | Vote | % | ||
United People's Freedom Alliance | 363,490 | 18 | 140,295 | 7 | 146,418 | 9 | 30 | [1]36 | +6 | 650,203 | 59.53% | |
United National Party | 237,827 | 12 | 56,009 | 3 | 128,289 | 7 | 26 | 22 | −4 | 422,125 | 38.65% | |
Total | 643,617 | 30 | 218,406 | 10 | 309,666 | 16 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 1,167,336 | 100% | |
Voter turnout: 66.84% | ||||||||||||
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Elections
Notes:
|
Eastern Province
Alliances and parties | Ampara | Batticaloa | Trincomalee | Bonus Seats |
Total | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | |||
et al.) | 144,247 | 52.96% | 8 | 105,341 | 58.09% | 6 | 59,298 | 42.99% | 4 | 2 | 308,886 | 52.21% | [1]20 | |
United National Party (SLMC, UNP) | 121,272 | 44.52% | 6 | 58,602 | 32.31% | 4 | 70,858 | 51.37% | 5 | 0 | 250,732 | 42.38% | 15 | |
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna | 4,745 | 1.74% | 0 | 379 | 0.21% | 0 | 4,266 | 3.09% | 1 | 0 | 9,390 | 1.59% | 1 | |
et al.) | 7,714 | 4.25% | 1 | 0 | 7,714 | 1.30% | 1 | |||||||
Eelam People's Democratic Party | 5,418 | 2.99% | 0 | 0 | 5,418 | 0.92% | 0 | |||||||
Independent Groups |
737 | 0.27% | 0 | 823 | 0.45% | 0 | 1,073 | 0.78% | 0 | 0 | 2,633 | 0.45% | 0 | |
United Socialist Party | 296 | 0.11% | 0 | 943 | 0.52% | 0 | 1,309 | 0.95% | 0 | 0 | 2,548 | 0.43% | 0 | |
Eelavar Democratic Front (EROS ) |
1,816 | 1.00% | 0 | 459 | 0.33% | 0 | 0 | 2,275 | 0.38% | 0 | ||||
United National Alliance | 597 | 0.22% | 0 | 0 | 597 | 0.10% | 0 | |||||||
People's Front of Liberation Tigers | 63 | 0.02% | 0 | 157 | 0.09% | 0 | 163 | 0.12% | 0 | 0 | 383 | 0.06% | 0 | |
All Lanka Tamil United Front | 378 | 0.27% | 0 | 0 | 378 | 0.06% | 0 | |||||||
New Sinhala Heritage | 312 | 0.11% | 0 | 0 | 312 | 0.05% | 0 | |||||||
National Development Front | 100 | 0.04% | 0 | 89 | 0.06% | 0 | 0 | 189 | 0.03% | 0 | ||||
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya |
11 | 0.00% | 0 | 85 | 0.05% | 0 | 13 | 0.01% | 0 | 0 | 109 | 0.02% | 0 | |
Muslim Liberation Front | 39 | 0.02% | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0.01% | 0 | |||||||
Sri Lanka National Front | 21 | 0.01% | 0 | 9 | 0.01% | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0.01% | 0 | ||||
Sri Lanka Progressive Front | 17 | 0.01% | 0 | 9 | 0.01% | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0.00% | 0 | ||||
Ruhuna People's Party | 9 | 0.00% | 0 | 5 | 0.00% | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0.00% | 0 | ||||
Liberal Party |
3 | 0.00% | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.00% | 0 | |||||||
Valid Votes | 272,392 | 100.00% | 14 | 181,355 | 100.00% | 11 | 137,929 | 100.00% | 10 | 2 | 591,676 | 100.00% | 37 | |
Rejected Votes | 20,997 | 21,088 | 12,695 | 54,780 | ||||||||||
Total Polled | 293,389 | 202,443 | 150,624 | 646,456 | ||||||||||
Registered Electors | 409,308 | 330,950 | 242,463 | 982,721 | ||||||||||
Turnout | 71.68% | 61.17% | 62.12% | 65.78% | ||||||||||
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Elections
Notes:
|
North Central Province
Party | Anuradhapura | Polonnaruwa | Seats | Popular Vote | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | Seats | Votes | Seats | 2004 | 2009 | +/− | Vote | % | ||
United People's Freedom Alliance | 199,547 | 12 | 107,910 | 6 | 22 | [1]20 | −2 | 307,457 | 56.37% | |
United National Party | 142,019 | 8 | 63,265 | 4 | 10 | 12 | +2 | 205,284 | 37.64% | |
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna | 19,357 | 1 | 7,381 | 0 | [2]0 | 1 | +1 | 26,738 | 4.90% | |
Total | 382,677 | 21 | 190,845 | 10 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 573,522 | 100% | |
Voter turnout: 67.75% | ||||||||||
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Elections
Notes: |
North Western Province
Party | Kurunegala | Puttalam | Seats | Popular Vote | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | Seats | Votes | Seats | 2004 | 2009 | +/− | Vote | % | ||
United People's Freedom Alliance | 497,366 | 24 | 171,377 | 11 | 31 | [1]37 | +6 | 668,743 | 69.43% | |
United National Party | 193,548 | 9 | 76,799 | 5 | 19 | 14 | −5 | 270,347 | 28.07% | |
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna | 16,084 | 1 | 4,344 | 0 | [2]0 | 1 | +1 | 20,428 | 2.12% | |
Total | 735,846 | 34 | 274,014 | 16 | 52 | 52 | 0 | 1,009,860 | 100% | |
Voter turnout: 60.77% | ||||||||||
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Elections
Notes: |
Sabaragamuwa Province
Party | Ratnapura | Polonnaruwa | Seats | Popular Vote | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | Seats | Votes | Seats | 2004 | 2009 | +/− | Vote | % | ||
United People's Freedom Alliance | 260,218 | 13 | 212,571 | 7 | 28 | [1]25 | −3 | 472,789 | 55.34% | |
United National Party | 191,996 | 10 | 154,325 | 7 | 15 | 17 | +2 | 346,321 | 40.53% | |
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna | 9,703 | 1 | 9,365 | 1 | [2]0 | 2 | +2 | 19,068 | 2.23% | |
Total | 497,013 | 24 | 404,660 | 18 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 901,673 | 100% | |
Voter turnout: 68.37% | ||||||||||
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Elections
Notes: |
Southern Province
Results of the 6th Southern provincial council election held on 10 October 2009:
Party / Alliance | Galle | Hambantota | Matara | Bonus Seats |
Total | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | ||
United People's Freedom Alliance | 354,000 | 68.34% | 16 | 192,961 | 66.95% | 8 | 257,110 | 67.97% | 12 | 2 | 804,071 | 67.88% | 38 |
United National Party | 140,175 | 27.06% | 6 | 62,391 | 21.65% | 3 | 94,614 | 25.01% | 5 | 297,180 | 25.09% | 14 | |
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna | 19,958 | 3.85% | 1 | 31,734 | 11.01% | 1 | 20,687 | 5.47% | 1 | 72,379 | 6.11% | 3 | |
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress | 2,273 | 0.44% | 0 | 4,280 | 1.13% | 0 | 6,553 | 0.55% | 0 | ||||
Independents |
260 | 0.05% | 0 | 389 | 0.13% | 0 | 343 | 0.09% | 0 | 992 | 0.08% | 0 | |
United National Alliance | 500 | 0.10% | 0 | 371 | 0.10% | 0 | 871 | 0.07% | 0 | ||||
United Socialist Party | 366 | 0.07% | 0 | 221 | 0.08% | 0 | 218 | 0.06% | 0 | 805 | 0.07% | 0 | |
National Development Front | 174 | 0.06% | 0 | 294 | 0.08% | 0 | 468 | 0.04% | 0 | ||||
United Lanka People's Party | 57 | 0.01% | 0 | 217 | 0.08% | 0 | 274 | 0.02% | 0 | ||||
Janasetha Peramuna | 89 | 0.02% | 0 | 52 | 0.02% | 0 | 98 | 0.03% | 0 | 239 | 0.02% | 0 | |
United Lanka Great Council | 19 | 0.00% | 0 | 55 | 0.02% | 0 | 36 | 0.01% | 0 | 110 | 0.01% | 0 | |
Socialist Equality Party | 95 | 0.02% | 0 | 95 | 0.01% | 0 | |||||||
Left Front |
92 | 0.02% | 0 | 92 | 0.01% | 0 | |||||||
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya |
36 | 0.01% | 0 | 23 | 0.01% | 0 | 32 | 0.01% | 0 | 91 | 0.01% | 0 | |
Sri Lanka Progressive Front | 38 | 0.01% | 0 | 14 | 0.00% | 0 | 34 | 0.01% | 0 | 86 | 0.01% | 0 | |
Democratic Unity Alliance | 61 | 0.02% | 0 | 61 | 0.01% | 0 | |||||||
Ruhuna People's Party | 21 | 0.00% | 0 | 31 | 0.01% | 0 | 52 | 0.00% | 0 | ||||
National People's Party | 49 | 0.01% | 0 | 49 | 0.00% | 0 | |||||||
Patriotic National Front | 43 | 0.01% | 0 | 43 | 0.00% | 0 | |||||||
Valid Votes | 518,028 | 100.00% | 23 | 288,231 | 100.00% | 12 | 378,252 | 100.00% | 18 | 2 | 1,184,511 | 100.00% | 55 |
Rejected Votes | 21,952 | 13,403 | 16,727 | 52,082 | |||||||||
Total Polled | 539,980 | 301,634 | 394,979 | 1,236,593 | |||||||||
Registered Electors | 761,815 | 421,186 | 578,858 | 1,761,859 | |||||||||
Turnout | 70.88% | 71.62% | 68.23% | 70.19% |
Uva Province
The Uva Provincial Council was prematurely dissolved on 29 May 2009 by governor Nanda Mathew.[12] The term of the council was due to expire in August.[13] The Election Commissioner subsequently announced that nominations will be received from June 17 to June 23, to elect 21 members from the Badulla District and 11 members from the Monaragala District.[14] After the close of nominations, the date of the elections was announced as 8 August 2009.[15]
Results of the 5th Uva provincial council election held on 8 August 2009:
Party / Alliance | Badulla | Monaragala | Bonus Seats |
Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | ||
United People's Freedom Alliance | 259,069 | 67.79% | 14 | 159,837 | 81.32% | 9 | 2 | 418,906 | 72.39% | 25 |
United National Party | 98,635 | 25.81% | 5 | 30,509 | 15.52% | 2 | 129,144 | 22.32% | 7 | |
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna | 9,007 | 2.36% | 1 | 5,632 | 2.87% | 0 | 14,639 | 2.53% | 1 | |
Up-Country People's Front | 9,227 | 2.41% | 1 | 9,227 | 1.59% | 1 | ||||
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress | 4,150 | 1.09% | 0 | 4,150 | 0.72% | 0 | ||||
United National Alliance | 503 | 0.13% | 0 | 503 | 0.09% | 0 | ||||
Democratic Unity Alliance | 481 | 0.13% | 0 | 481 | 0.08% | 0 | ||||
National Development Front | 247 | 0.06% | 0 | 226 | 0.11% | 0 | 473 | 0.08% | 0 | |
United Socialist Party | 276 | 0.07% | 0 | 153 | 0.08% | 0 | 429 | 0.07% | 0 | |
Independents |
337 | 0.09% | 0 | 90 | 0.05% | 0 | 427 | 0.07% | 0 | |
United Lanka Great Council | 56 | 0.01% | 0 | 62 | 0.03% | 0 | 118 | 0.02% | 0 | |
Janasetha Peramuna | 67 | 0.02% | 0 | 67 | 0.01% | 0 | ||||
Patriotic National Front | 44 | 0.01% | 0 | 20 | 0.01% | 0 | 64 | 0.01% | 0 | |
Sri Lanka Progressive Front | 31 | 0.01% | 0 | 10 | 0.01% | 0 | 41 | 0.01% | 0 | |
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya |
30 | 0.01% | 0 | 10 | 0.01% | 0 | 40 | 0.01% | 0 | |
Valid Votes | 382,160 | 100.00% | 21 | 196,549 | 100.00% | 11 | 2 | 578,709 | 100.00% | 34 |
Rejected Votes | 24,455 | 9,969 | 34,424 | |||||||
Total Polled | 406,615 | 206,518 | 613,133 | |||||||
Registered Electors | 574,814 | 300,642 | 875,456 | |||||||
Turnout | 70.74% | 68.69% | 70.04% |
Western Province
Party | Colombo | Gampaha | Kaluthara | Seats | Popular Vote | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | Seats | Votes | Seats | Votes | Seats | 2004 | 2009 | +/− | Vote | % | ||
United People's Freedom Alliance | 530,370 | 25 | 624,530 | 27 | 351,215 | 14 | 59 | [1]68 | +9 | 1,506,115 | 64.73% | |
United National Party | 327,571 | 15 | 236,256 | 10 | 124,426 | 5 | 39 | 30 | −9 | 688,253 | 29.58% | |
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna | 21,787 | 1 | 21,491 | 1 | 13,106 | 1 | [2]0 | 3 | +3 | 56,384 | 2.43% | |
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress | 18,978 | 1 | 18,014 | 1 | 12,396 | 0 | 4 | 2 | −2 | 49,388 | 2.12% | |
Democratic Unity Alliance | 8,584 | 1 | 1,424 | 0 | 1,962 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11,970 | 0.51% | |
Total | 957,035 | 43 | 932,360 | 39 | 526,484 | 20 | 104 | 104 | 0 | 2,415,879 | 100% | |
Voter turnout: 63.24% | ||||||||||||
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Elections
Notes: |
References
- "PAST PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008.
- ^ "War on terror vote won by MR". The Island. 25 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
- ^ "Editorial: "UNPRECEDENTED VICTORY"". The Daily News. 27 April 2009. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
- ^ "UPFA up, up and away". The Daily Mirror. 27 April 2009. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
- ^ a b "Indo Sri Lanka Agreement, 1987". TamilNation.
- ^ "Introduction". Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Government of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009.
- ^ "Amendments to the 1978 Constitution". Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Government of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 17 August 2009.
- ^ a b "North-East merger illegal: SC". LankaNewspapers.com. 17 October 2006.
- ^ "Ethnic Conflict of Sri Lanka: Time Line - From Independence to 1999". International Centre for Ethnic Studies9. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009.
- ^ Ferdinando, Shamindra (10 September 2000). "I'm no traitor, says Perumal". Sunday Island. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009.
- ^ Sri Nissanka, Jayantha (30 April 2002). "Central Provincial Council : UNF takes over". Daily News, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Provincial Council Elections 2008 Final District Results: - Eastern Province". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "Uva PC dissolved". The Daily News. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 13 June 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
- ^ "Southern, Uva PCs to be dissolved". The Daily Mirror. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Nominations from June 17 to 23". The Daily News. 6 June 2009. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
- ^ "Uva PC election on August 8". Ada Derana. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.