SLPP records massive victory at parliamentary poll

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) registered a massive victory at the parliamentary poll securing 145 seats in the 225-seat legislature, official results showed on Friday. The SLPP had received 6.8 million votes -- 59.09 percent of the total votes polled -- securing 128 seats and 17 national list seats, the national election commission's final result showed. Opposition rivals Samagi Jana Balawegaya received 2.7 million votes, securing 47 seats and seven national list seats. The United National Party (UNP) that had been voted into power for over four decades, failed to acquire any seats at this year's poll. They will, however, receive one national list seat. Final results showed that the UNP received 249,435 votes - only 2.15 percent of the total vote tally. Its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, a former prime minister, and party stalwart Ravi Karunanayake who contested from the Colombo district failed to win a seat in Parliament. The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi obtained 327,168 votes and secured 10 seats that included a national list seat, while the Jathika Jana Balawegaya received 445,958 votes and secured three seats.