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Significant turnout in North for local polls:
UPFA gains early lead
by Ranil WIJAYAPALA and Ananda WEDAARACHCHI
 Early results pointed to another comfortable win for the United
People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at elections to 65 local bodies held in
several districts yesterday. The UPFA won the March 19 local polls
elections with 55.69 per cent of the votes cast. According to the first
result released last night, the UPFA won the Talawekele-Lindula Urban
Council with 1,988 votes, gaining seven seats. The UNP obtained 1,002
votes, winning two seats. The UPFA also won the Minuwangoda Urban
Council, with 3,162 votes, gaining eight seats. The UNP won three seats
with 1,523 votes.
The elections ended peacefully yesterday with over 55 per cent of
voters casting their votes to elect 875 Members, the Elections
Department, District Returning officers and the elections observers
said. According to election observers and the District Returning
officers, elections in the North which was the focus of many local and
international observers and media were peaceful and ended without any
major incidents. Elections were held for 16 Pradeshiya Sabhas and three
Urban Councils in the Jaffna district, three Pradeshiya Sabhas in the
Kilinochchi district and one Pradeshiya Sabha in the Mullaitivu
district.
The Elections Department said 75 minor elections related incidents
were reported as people cast their vote in a mainly peaceful
environment.
In a major victory for the process of democratization of the North,
the voter turnout in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts was
recorded at 65 percent. Residents of these areas were voting after more
than 20 years. The voter turnout in the Jaffna district was 46 percent
according to elections officials. Jaffna district Returning officer
Imelda Sukumar said the elections were held in a peaceful manner.
According to District Returning officers in the Colombo, Gampaha,
Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Anuradhapura,
Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Kurunegala, Moneragala, Ratnapura and Kegalle,
voters have exercised their franchise in a peaceful manner, with an
average 55 to 60 percent turnout reported.
ELECTION RESULTS
Talawakele-Lindula Urban Council:
Final result
Nuwara Eliya District
Name of Party\Independent Group No of votes Percentage(%) No.of members
received elected
United People’s Freedom Alliance 1,988 64.73% 7
United National Party 1,002 32.63% 2
Democratic People’s Front 75 2.4%
People Liberation Front 6 0.2%
Total valid votes 3,071 96.79%
Rejected votes 102 3.21%
Total votes polled 3,173 75.78
Registered electors 4,187
Including two (2) bonus seats |
