2008–09 Sri Lankan provincial council elections

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.

5th Sri Lankan provincial council election
10 May 2008, 23 August 2008, 14 February 2009
25 April 2009, 8 August 2009, 10 October 2009
417 seats across 8 provincial councils
Turnout65.84%
  First party Second party
 
Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa Ranil Wickremasinghe
Party UPFA UNP
Popular vote 5,137,170 2,609,386
Percentage 63.10% 32.05%
Councillors 269 131
Councils 8 0
Winners of polling divisions. UPFA in blue and UNP in green.

The first election was held in May 2008 to elect members to Sri Lanka's Eastern Provincial Council. In August 2008, elections were held in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. In 2009, elections were held for Central and North Western Provincial Councils in February, for the Western Provincial Council in April, for the Uva Provincial Council in August and for the Southern Provincial Council in October. No election was held for the ninth provincial council, Northern, which had been governed directly by the national government since it was demerged from the North Eastern Provincial Council in January 2007.

The elections were largely seen as a referendum on the handling of the civil war by Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse.[1] Rajapakse's United People's Freedom Alliance and its allies registered resounding victories over the opposition United National Party in all the elections.[2][3]

Background
Main article: Provinces of Sri Lanka

In an attempt to end the Sri Lankan Civil War the Indo-Lanka Accord was signed on 29 July 1987. One of the requirements of the accord was that the Sri Lankan government to devolve powers to the provinces.[4] Accordingly on 14 November 1987 the Sri Lankan Parliament passed the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka and the Provincial Councils Act No 42 of 1987.[5][6] On 3 February 1988 nine provincial councils were created by order.[7] The first elections for provincial councils took place on 28 April 1988 in North Central, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva provinces.[8] On 2 June 1988 elections were held for provincial councils for Central, Southern and Western provinces. The United National Party (UNP), which was in power nationally, won control of all seven provincial councils.

The Indo-Lanka Accord also required the merger of the Eastern and Northern provinces into one administrative unit. The accord required a referendum to be held by 31 December 1988 in the Eastern Province to decide whether the merger should be permanent. Crucially, the accord allowed the Sri Lankan president to postpone the referendum at his discretion.[4] On September 2 and 8 1988 President Jayewardene issued proclamations enabling the Eastern and Northern provinces to be one administrative unit administered by one elected council, creating the North Eastern Province.[7] Elections in the newly merged North Eastern Province were held on 19 November 1988. The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, an Indian backed paramilitary group, won control of the North Eastern provincial council.

On 1 March 1990, just as the Indian Peace Keeping Force were preparing to withdraw from Sri Lanka, Annamalai Varatharajah Perumal, Chief Minister of the North Eastern Province, moved a motion in the North Eastern Provincial Council declaring an independent Eelam.[9] President Premadasa reacted to Permual's UDI by dissolving the provincial council and imposing direct rule on the province.

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.

The 3rd Sri Lankan provincial council election was held in 1999 in seven provinces. The PA, which was now in power nationally, managed to win the majority of seats in two provinces (North Central and North Western). It was also able to form a majority administration in the other five provinces with the support of smaller parties such as the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) . The UNP regained control of the Central Provincial Council in 2002 after the CWC councillors crossed over to the opposition.[10]

The 4th Sri Lankan provincial council election was held in 2004 in seven provinces. The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the successor to the PA, won all seven provinces.

Results
The nine provinces of the country

The UPFA won all eight provinces.

Overall
Party / AllianceVotes%Seats
United People's Freedom Alliance15,137,17063.10%269
United National Party22,609,38632.05%131
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna234,4422.88%12
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress260,0910.74%2
Independents15,7890.19%0
Democratic Unity Alliance12,5120.15%1
Up-Country People's Front10,6450.13%1
Ceylon Workers' Congress110,1630.12%0
United Socialist Party9,0240.11%0
Tamil Democratic National Alliance7,7140.09%1
United National Alliance7,0980.09%0
Eelam People's Democratic Party5,4180.07%0
Left Front4,7710.06%0
National Development Front3,5580.04%0
National Congress3,4040.04%0
Eelavar Democratic Front2,2750.03%0
Ruhuna People's Party1,6180.02%0
United Lanka People's Party9110.01%0
New Sinhala Heritage8380.01%0
United Lanka Great Council8030.01%0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya7000.01%0
Socialist Equality Party5030.01%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front4750.01%0
Janasetha Peramuna3060.00%0
People's Front of Liberation Tigers3830.00%0
Patriotic National Front3790.00%0
All Lanka Tamil United Front3780.00%0
National People's Party3020.00%0
Democratic United National Front1070.00%0
Muslim Liberation Front490.00%0
Sri Lanka National Front300.00%0
Liberal Party200.00%0
Valid Votes8,141,262100.00%417
Rejected Votes427,543
Total Polled8,568,805
Registered Electors13,013,731
Turnout65.84%
1. CWC contested with the UPFA in Central and Uva provinces.
2. SLMC contested with the UNP in Eastern province.

Central Province
Summary of the February 14, 2009 Sri Lanka Central Provincial Council election results
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:

1. ^ Includes 2 bonus seats

Eastern Province
Summary of the May 10, 2008 Sri Lanka Eastern Provincial Council election results[11]
Alliances and partiesAmparaBatticaloaTrincomaleeBonus
Seats		Total
Votes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%Seats
 United People's Freedom Alliance (ACMC, NC, SLFP, TMVP et al.)144,24752.96%8105,34158.09%659,29842.99%42308,88652.21%[1]20
 United National Party (SLMC, UNP)121,27244.52%658,60232.31%470,85851.37%50250,73242.38%15
 Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna4,7451.74%03790.21%04,2663.09%109,3901.59%1
 Tamil Democratic National Alliance (EPRLF(P), PLOTE, TULF et al.)7,7144.25%107,7141.30%1
 Eelam People's Democratic Party5,4182.99%005,4180.92%0
 Independent Groups7370.27%08230.45%01,0730.78%002,6330.45%0
United Socialist Party2960.11%09430.52%01,3090.95%002,5480.43%0
 Eelavar Democratic Front (EROS)1,8161.00%04590.33%002,2750.38%0
United National Alliance5970.22%005970.10%0
People's Front of Liberation Tigers630.02%01570.09%01630.12%003830.06%0
All Lanka Tamil United Front3780.27%003780.06%0
New Sinhala Heritage3120.11%003120.05%0
National Development Front1000.04%0890.06%001890.03%0
 Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya110.00%0850.05%0130.01%001090.02%0
Muslim Liberation Front390.02%00390.01%0
Sri Lanka National Front210.01%090.01%00300.01%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front170.01%090.01%00260.00%0
Ruhuna People's Party90.00%050.00%00140.00%0
Liberal Party30.00%0030.00%0
Valid Votes272,392100.00%14181,355100.00%11137,929100.00%102591,676100.00%37
Rejected Votes20,99721,08812,69554,780
Total Polled293,389202,443150,624646,456
Registered Electors409,308330,950242,463982,721
Turnout71.68%61.17%62.12%65.78%
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Elections

Notes:

1. ^ Includes 2 bonus seats

North Central Province
Summary of the August 23, 2008 Sri Lanka North Central Provincial Council election results
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:

1. ^ Includes 2 bonus seats
2. ^ Contested in 2004 as part of the UPFA

North Western Province
Summary of the February 14, 2009 Sri Lanka North Western Provincial Council election results
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:

1. ^ Includes 2 bonus seats
2. ^ Contested in 2004 as part of the UPFA

Sabaragamuwa Province
Summary of the August 23, 2008 Sri Lanka Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council election results
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:

1. ^ Includes 2 bonus seats
2. ^ Contested in 2004 as part of the UPFA

Southern Province

Results of the 6th Southern provincial council election held on 10 October 2009:

Party / AllianceGalleHambantotaMataraBonus
Seats		Total
Votes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%Seats
United People's Freedom Alliance354,00068.34%16192,96166.95%8257,11067.97%122804,07167.88%38
United National Party140,17527.06%662,39121.65%394,61425.01%5297,18025.09%14
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna19,9583.85%131,73411.01%120,6875.47%172,3796.11%3
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress2,2730.44%04,2801.13%06,5530.55%0
Independents2600.05%03890.13%03430.09%09920.08%0
United National Alliance5000.10%03710.10%08710.07%0
United Socialist Party3660.07%02210.08%02180.06%08050.07%0
National Development Front1740.06%02940.08%04680.04%0
United Lanka People's Party570.01%02170.08%02740.02%0
Janasetha Peramuna890.02%0520.02%0980.03%02390.02%0
United Lanka Great Council190.00%0550.02%0360.01%01100.01%0
Socialist Equality Party950.02%0950.01%0
Left Front920.02%0920.01%0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya360.01%0230.01%0320.01%0910.01%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front380.01%0140.00%0340.01%0860.01%0
Democratic Unity Alliance610.02%0610.01%0
Ruhuna People's Party210.00%0310.01%0520.00%0
National People's Party490.01%0490.00%0
Patriotic National Front430.01%0430.00%0
Valid Votes518,028100.00%23288,231100.00%12378,252100.00%1821,184,511100.00%55
Rejected Votes21,95213,40316,72752,082
Total Polled539,980301,634394,9791,236,593
Registered Electors761,815421,186578,8581,761,859
Turnout70.88%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 / AllianceBadullaMonaragalaBonus
Seats		Total
Votes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%Seats
United People's Freedom Alliance259,06967.79%14159,83781.32%92418,90672.39%25
United National Party98,63525.81%530,50915.52%2129,14422.32%7
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna9,0072.36%15,6322.87%014,6392.53%1
Up-Country People's Front9,2272.41%19,2271.59%1
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress4,1501.09%04,1500.72%0
United National Alliance5030.13%05030.09%0
Democratic Unity Alliance4810.13%04810.08%0
National Development Front2470.06%02260.11%04730.08%0
United Socialist Party2760.07%01530.08%04290.07%0
Independents3370.09%0900.05%04270.07%0
United Lanka Great Council560.01%0620.03%01180.02%0
Janasetha Peramuna670.02%0670.01%0
Patriotic National Front440.01%0200.01%0640.01%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front310.01%0100.01%0410.01%0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya300.01%0100.01%0400.01%0
Valid Votes382,160100.00%21196,549100.00%112578,709100.00%34
Rejected Votes24,4559,96934,424
Total Polled406,615206,518613,133
Registered Electors574,814300,642875,456
Turnout70.74%68.69%70.04%

Western Province
Summary of the April 24, 2009 Sri Lanka Western Provincial Council election results
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:

1. ^ Includes 2 bonus seats
2. ^ Contested in 2004 as part of the UPFA

References
  • "PAST PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008.
  1. "War on terror vote won by MR". The Island. 25 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  2. "Editorial: "UNPRECEDENTED VICTORY"". The Daily News. 27 April 2009. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  3. "UPFA up, up and away". The Daily Mirror. 27 April 2009. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  4. "Indo Sri Lanka Agreement, 1987". TamilNation.
  5. "Introduction". Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Government of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009.
  6. "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.
  7. "North-East merger illegal: SC". LankaNewspapers.com. 17 October 2006.
  8. "Ethnic Conflict of Sri Lanka: Time Line - From Independence to 1999". International Centre for Ethnic Studies9. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009.
  9. Ferdinando, Shamindra (10 September 2000). "I'm no traitor, says Perumal". Sunday Island. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009.
  10. 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.
  11. "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.
  12. "Uva PC dissolved". The Daily News. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 13 June 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  13. "Southern, Uva PCs to be dissolved". The Daily Mirror. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  14. "Nominations from June 17 to 23". The Daily News. 6 June 2009. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  15. "Uva PC election on August 8". Ada Derana. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
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