SJB trying to take control of CMC

Govt. suffers set back in N&E

SLPP records significant increase in votes but fails to win single body

The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) secured 266 out of 339 local government bodies at the May 6 election but suffered a setback in the northern and eastern regions as the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) won 42 local authorities.

The ITAK and SLMC secured 37 and 05 local government bodies, respectively, although President Anura Kumara Dissanayake personally led the NPP’s campaign in the former war zone. The National Congress won the Akkaraipattu MC. In the last parliamentary election held in Nov. 2014, the NPP won all electoral districts, except Batticaloa.

The NPP obtained 4,503,930 votes countrywide whereas in the last parliamentary election it received 6,863,186 votes; there has been a drop of 2,359,256 votes.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) won 13 local government bodies, but the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) failed to secure any.

The SLPP obtained 954,517 votes and 742 seats, accounting for 9.17% of the national vote. In a post on X, SLPP’s National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa said: “Over the past six months, the SLPP has regrouped and gained momentum by staying true to our principles. While some rely on false promises, we remain committed to honest, principled politics that put the people first. Thank you to everyone who stood by us. This is just the beginning. We will keep working, village by village, to rebuild and restore trust in real leadership.” The SLPP polled only 350,429 votes in last year’s general election.

In the 2018 LG polls, the SLPP won 231 councils. That was the first time the government of the day failed to win mini polls. Yahapalana partners, UNP and SLFP, having contested separately, suffered a debilitating setback.

In spite of the massive campaign carried out by the NPP, targeting the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), the ruling party failed to secure an overall majority there. The NPP polled 81,000 votes to obtain 48 seats whereas the SJB and UNP polled 58,375 (29 seats) and 26,297 (13 seats) votes, respectively. The SLPP (05), SLMC (04), United Republican Front (01), United Peace Alliance (02), Sarvajana Balaya (02), and National People’s Party, National Freedom Front, People’s

Alliance and Democratic National Alliance one each.

In addition to political parties, five Independent Groups shared the remaining 09 seats of the CMC.

With no party holding a clear majority, the next Colombo Mayor will need to be elected through a Council vote.

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara told a hastily arranged media conference that the SJB intended to elect an SJBer as Colombo Mayor with the help of the other Opposition parties. The former Minister said that the SJB would cooperate with the other parties in the Opposition regarding the appointment of Mayors and Chairmen of the hung local councils.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the House, Bimal Ratnayake, has said those who won local government bodies in the Northern Province but without absolute majorities have sought NPP support to form administrations.

Addressing a separate media briefing, JVP General Secretary, Tilvin Silva, declared that the ruling party wouldn’t, under any circumstances, form coalitions with those who had been rejected by the people.