The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) appeared on the road for a convincing victory at yesterday’s elections to 23 local councils.
The UPFA secured 16 local councils, according to the results released by midnight. The main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) failed to win a council of those declared.
The UPFA won the municipal councils of Matara, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Galle, Hambantota, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Matale, Gampaha, Negombo and Badulla and the Pradeshiya Sabhas of Hambantota, Suriyawewa, Kandy Gravets and Gangawata Korale and Kundasale.
The UNP’s defeat at the Kandy MC polls was its first in 58 years and it lost the Nuwara Eliya MC polls after 28 years.
Results of the elections to the municipal councils of Colombo, Dehiwela-Mt. lavinia, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, Moratuwa and Kalmunai, the Kolonnawa Urban Council, the Pradeshiya and Suriyawewa were awaited.
Earlier election officials said an estimated 60 per cent turnout was recorded. In many of the booths in Colombo brisk voting was reported in the first hours, but reduced gradually towards afternoon.
Rohana Hettiarachchi, the Executive director of People’s Action Front for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), said about 45 complaints relating to election law violations were received but the elections were largely peaceful.
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