Akurana PS: Re-count confirms UNP the winner

An attempt to oust the UNP-dominated Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha came a cropper last week when a re-count ordered by the Supreme Court proved that the ruling party in fact obtained more votes than previously counted.

The re-count, following an application spearheaded by Deputy Tourism Minister Faizer Mustapha and filed by the UPFA in the Supreme Court, followed a close finish of the 2006 poll where the UNP won with a majority of only 11 votes.

PS chairman A.M.N. Sinnan who was present during the recount held at the Election Secretariat in Colombo told The Sunday Times that election officials said the UNP now had a majority of 16 votes. The petition had been filed by the UPFA candidate T.S.A.Haleemdeen. The Supreme Court had also ordered the re-count of the preference votes received by the members. The UNP won the council by returning eight members after polling 11,599 votes.