Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna wins majority of votes in LG Elections

by Staff Writer 11-02-2018 | 9:40 PM

This is the first election that was held in Sri Lanka under a mixed electoral system, with 60% of candidates being elected from the wards, and 40 percent from the list. Another key feature of the election is the 25% quota for women council members. As at 6:30 p.m. today, Sunday, February 11, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna had won the most seats in 222 local government authorities, with 45.61% of the total vote countrywide. The UNP has won the most seats in 41 bodies. Other party majority seats are as follows:

ITAK - 34 authorities
The SLFP - 7 authorities
The Ceylon Workers Congress - 5 authorities
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress - 4 authorities
United People's Freedom Alliance - 3 authorities

Independent groups have also been successful in winning the most seats in several local government authorities. However, in many of these local councils, the parties winning the most seats failed to establish clear majorities, which would mean that alliances and coalitions will have to be formed at the local level. According to informed sources, these discussions have already commenced.