Apr 17, 2011

President Mahinda Rajapaksa once again affirmed his political strength when Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)-led United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) romped home winning 205 of the 234 local government (LG) authorities polls held during the month. Elections to 64 LG bodies could not be held as legal action is pending after nominations to these bodies were rejected. As against this, the main opposition United National Party (UNP) could capture only 9 LG bodies as against 31 won in 2006 LG election. The Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) put up a dismal show.

A significant aspect of the poll is the strong showing by the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), earlier known as Tamil National Alliance, winning 12 LG bodies in Tamil predominant areas of East and parts of North. UNP’s former poll ally Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) gained control of 4 LG bodies.

The ruling UPFA coalition polled 3,338,401 votes (55.65%); the UNP obtained 2,032,891 votes (33.89%). The JVP polled only 181,270 votes (3.02 per cent), while ITAK polled 70,171 votes (1.17%) and the SLMC secured 88,592 votes (1.48%).

It is clear that President Rajapaksa’s popularity remains undiminished as evidenced by hat trick of victories he has scored in the presidential, provincial and LG polls successively. The UNP troubled by internal schism has not been able to decide on a charismatic leader who could regain its past glory. And as far as Tamil votes are concerned, ITAK appears to have firm grip and President Rajapaksa will have to strike a bargain with them if he wants to win Tamil support. The JVP’s efforts to further its hold by drumming up support for jailed former General Sarath Fonseka appears to have failed. It will have to rethink is strategy if it wants to make a comeback.  

The ITAK strengthened by the popular mandate in LG polls, proposes to place a demand before the government to grant the Northern Province police powers besides the right to manage land and forest reservations as listed already in the Concurrent List of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.