‘UPFA will secure more votes at future polls in North’

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha said that only the UPFA as a national political party secured nearly 83,000 votes at the recently concluded Northern Provincial Council election. This is a clear indication that the UPFA would secure more votes in the North at the next major elections to be held.

When compared to other major political parties the UNP had obtained only 895 votes in the Jaffna district and 3,000 votes in the entire Northern province. At the last general election, the UNP had a parliamentarian representing the Jaffna district. The election result shows the severe setback suffered by the UNP in Jaffna, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

The majority of people in the North had voted for the TNA. But the UPFA as a new political front had a seven-member representation at the Northern Provincial Council.

The members include three Tamils, two Muslims and two Sinhalese and we are satisfied with that representation, he said.

“I strongly believe that before the next elections, the UPFA would organise its party network in each and every polling division in the North so that it would successfully contest major elections to be held within the next couple of years.”

The Minister said President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government is satisfied with the manner in which people cast their votes in the North with the highest voter turnout.

The average voter turnout in the North was around 68 percent and it was over 70 percent in some polling divisions. This was the first time after 30 years that people in the Jaffna peninsula had voted in this manner. As far as democracy is concerned, it’s a victory for the country.

Minister Premajayantha said before the elections, there was speculation in a certain section of the media and some local and international organisations that there won’t be a free and fair election in the North.

However, the outcome of the election results had shown the entire world the Government’s sincere commitment to conduct a free and fair election in the North.

The International Election Observers had also commended the Government and the Elections Commissioner for holding the elections in a free and fair manner.