6th Sri Lankan provincial council election
21 September 2013
148 seats across 3 provincial councils
Turnout65.85%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa R. Sampanthan Ranil Wickremasinghe
Party UPFA TNA UNP
Popular vote 1,504,273 353,595 590,888
Percentage 55.66% 13.08% 21.86%
Councillors 77 30 28
Councils 2 1 0
Winners of polling divisions. UPFA in blue, TNA in yellow and UNP in green.

Provincial council elections were held in Sri Lanka on 21 September 2013 to elect 148 members to three of the nine provincial councils in the country. 4.4 million Sri Lankans were eligible to vote in the election.[1] Elections to the remaining six provincial councils were not due as they had their last election in 2009 or 2012. This was the first provincial council election in the Northern Province in 25 years.[2]

The United People's Freedom Alliance's domination of Sri Lankan elections continued as expected. It retained control of two provincial councils (Central and North Western) but the Tamil National Alliance won control of the first Northern Provincial Council.

Background

In an attempt to end the Sri Lankan Civil War the Indo-Lanka Accord was signed on 29 July 1987. One of the requirements of the accord was that the Sri Lankan government to devolve powers to the provinces.[3] Accordingly on 14 November 1987 the Sri Lankan Parliament passed the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka and the Provincial Councils Act No 42 of 1987.[4][5] On 3 February 1988 nine provincial councils were created by order.[6] The first elections for provincial councils took place on 28 April 1988 in North Central, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva provinces.[7] On 2 June 1988 elections were held for provincial councils for Central, Southern and Western provinces. The United National Party (UNP), which was in power nationally, won control of all seven provincial councils.

The Indo-Lanka Accord also required the merger of the Eastern and Northern provinces into one administrative unit. The accord required a referendum to be held by 31 December 1988 in the Eastern Province to decide whether the merger should be permanent. Crucially, the accord allowed the Sri Lankan president to postpone the referendum at his discretion.[3] On September 2 and 8 1988 President Jayewardene issued proclamations enabling the Eastern and Northern provinces to be one administrative unit administered by one elected council, creating the North Eastern Province.[6] Elections in the newly merged North Eastern Province were held on 19 November 1988. The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, an Indian backed paramilitary group, won control of the North Eastern provincial council.

On 1 March 1990, just as the Indian Peace Keeping Force were preparing to withdraw from Sri Lanka, Annamalai Varadaraja Perumal, Chief Minister of the North Eastern Province, moved a motion in the North Eastern Provincial Council declaring an independent Eelam.[8] President Premadasa reacted to Permual's UDI by dissolving the provincial council and imposing direct rule on the province.

The 2nd Sri Lankan provincial council election was held in 1993 in seven provinces. The UNP retained control of six provincial councils but lost control of the largest provincial council, Western, to the opposition People's Alliance. A special election was held in Southern Province in 1994 after some UNP provincial councillors defected to the opposition. The PA won the election and took control of the Southern Provincial Council.

The 3rd Sri Lankan provincial council election was held in 1999 in seven provinces. The PA, which was now in power nationally, managed to win the majority of seats in two provinces (North Central and North Western). It was also able to form a majority administration in the other five provinces with the support of smaller parties such as the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) . The UNP regained control of the Central Provincial Council in 2002 after the CWC councillors crossed over to the opposition.[9]

The 4th Sri Lankan provincial council election was held in 2004 in seven provinces. The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the successor to the PA, won all seven provinces.

On 14 July 2006, after a long campaign against the merger, the JVP filed three separate petitions with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka requesting a separate Provincial Council for the East.[6] On 16 October 2006 the Supreme Court ruled that the proclamations issued by President Jayewardene were null and void and had no legal effect.[6] The North Eastern Province was formally demerged into the Northern and Eastern provinces on 1 January 2007.

The 5th Sri Lankan provincial council election was held on a staggered basis during 2008/09 in eight provinces including the newly demerged Eastern Province. The UPFA won all eight provinces.

Soon after the civil war ended in May 2009 there were calls for election to be held for the Northern Provincial Council. In January 2010 government minister Douglas Devananda stated that the election would be held soon after the 2010 presidential election.[10] But the election wasn't held although presidential, parliamentary and local elections were held in the Northern Province.[11] As the government procrastinated, international pressure mounted. In an interview with The Hindu in July 2012 President Rajapaksa stated the election would be held in September 2013.[12] In March 2013 the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution which, amongst other things, welcomed the decision to hold the election in September 2013.[13][14]

The 6th Sri Lankan provincial council election was also held on a staggered basis. Elections were held on 8 September 2012 in Eastern, North Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces. The UPFA won the majority of seats in two provinces (North Central and Sabaragamuwa) and was also able to form a majority administration in Eastern Provinces with the support of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. On 5 July 2013 President Rajapaksa issued a proclamation ordering the Election Commissioner to conduct elections for the Northern Provincial Council.[15][16] Central Provincial Council and North Western Provincial Council were also dissolved by their governors on 5 July 2013.[17]

Details

Nominations took place between 25 July 2013 and 1 August 2013.[18][19] 210 nominations (131 form registered political parties, 79 from independent groups) were received by the returning officers of which 201 nominations (126 form registered political parties, 75 from independent groups) were accepted and nine nominations (five form registered political parties, four from independent groups) were rejected.[20] The UPFA, UNP and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna are contesting in all ten districts, the Tamil National Alliance is contesting in the five districts in Northern Province whilst the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, a constituent party of the UPFA, is contesting separately in seven districts.[21]

After the nomination period had ended Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya announced that the elections would be held on 21 September 2013.[22][23]

Results

Overall

The UPFA won control of two provincial councils (Central and North Western) whilst the TNA won control of Northern Provincial Council.

Alliances and partiesVotes%SeatsCouncils
 United People's Freedom Alliance 1,504,27355.66%772
 Tamil National Alliance[29] 353,59513.08%301
 United National Party590,88821.86%280
 Democratic Party91,5233.39%50
 Sri Lanka Muslim Congress[28]52,4091.94%40
 Ceylon Workers' Congress[24]29,2851.08%20
 Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna33,7991.25%10
 Up-Country People's Front24,9130.92%10
 Independent lists7,4500.28%00
Jana Setha Peramuna2,7830.10%00
Sri Lanka People's Party1,8420.07%00
Our National Front1,4950.06%00
 Eelavar Democratic Front1,3960.05%00
United Lanka Great Council1,0230.04%00
Patriotic National Front9120.03%00
 Democratic Unity Alliance8260.03%00
Nationalities Unity Organisation7620.03%00
Socialist Alliance 7260.03%00
 United Socialist Party7110.03%00
United Lanka People's Party5540.02%00
New Democratic Front5040.02%00
Ruhuna People's Party3000.01%00
Sri Lanka Labour Party2530.01%00
New Sinhala Heritage1540.01%00
 Socialist Equality Party1010.00%00
Muslim Liberation Front920.00%00
Valid Votes2,702,569100.00%1483
Rejected Votes170,615
Total Polled2,873,184
Registered Electors4,363,252
Turnout65.85%

Central Province

Results of the 6th Central Provincial Council election held on 21 September 2013:[30]

Alliances and partiesKandyMataleNuwara EliyaBonus
Seats		Total
Votes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%Seats
 United People's Freedom Alliance355,81255.76%16135,12859.99%7225,30768.87%112716,24760.16%36
 United National Party200,18731.37%963,36528.13%367,26320.56%40330,81527.79%16
 Democratic Party37,4315.87%24,4231.96%03,3851.03%0045,2393.80%2
 Ceylon Workers' Congress18,7872.94%110,4984.66%1029,2852.46%2
 Up-Country People's Front1,4580.23%023,4557.17%1024,9132.09%1
 Sri Lanka Muslim Congress11,1371.75%16,6512.95%0017,7881.49%1
 Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna7,6401.20%03,9371.75%02,3100.71%0013,8871.17%0
 Independent lists9960.16%05780.26%02,6740.82%004,2480.36%0
Sri Lanka People's Party1,5500.24%001,5500.13%0
 Eelavar Democratic Front1,0960.34%001,0960.09%0
Jana Setha Peramuna7560.12%01610.07%0370.01%009540.08%0
Socialist Alliance7260.22%007260.06%0
Our National Front4660.07%01990.09%006650.06%0
United Lanka Great Council5440.09%0490.02%0630.02%006560.06%0
Patriotic National Front3420.05%0660.03%01290.04%005370.05%0
 United Socialist Party5230.16%005230.04%0
New Democratic Front5040.08%005040.04%0
United Lanka People's Party1170.05%01380.04%002550.02%0
Ruhuna People's Party1670.03%0470.02%0160.00%002300.02%0
New Sinhala Heritage1540.02%001540.01%0
Sri Lanka Labour Party770.01%0490.02%0210.01%001470.01%0
Muslim Liberation Front890.01%00890.01%0
Valid Votes638,097100.00%29225,268100.00%11327,143100.00%1621,190,508100.00%58
Rejected Votes39,14815,33627,67782,161
Total Polled677,245240,604354,8201,272,669
Registered Electors1,015,315366,549507,6931,889,557
Turnout66.70%65.64%69.89%67.35%

Northern Province

Results of the 1st Northern Provincial Council election held on 21 September 2013:[31]

Northern Provincial Election Results 2013
Alliances and partiesJaffnaKilinochchiMannarMullaitivuVavuniyaBonus
Seats		Total
Votes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%Seats
 Tamil National Alliance213,90784.37%1437,07981.57%333,11862.22%328,26678.56%441,22566.10%42353,59578.48%30
 United People's Freedom Alliance35,99514.20%27,89717.37%115,10428.38%17,20920.04%116,63326.67%2082,83818.38%7
 Sri Lanka Muslim Congress4,5718.59%11990.55%01,9913.19%006,7611.50%1
 United National Party8550.34%0540.12%01870.35%01970.55%01,7692.84%003,0620.68%0
 Independent lists1,4450.57%0290.06%0490.09%0540.15%03270.52%001,9040.42%0
 Democratic Unity Alliance5250.21%0610.13%0700.13%01700.27%008260.18%0
 Eelavar Democratic Front3000.66%003000.07%0
Sri Lanka People's Party2920.12%002920.06%0
 Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna560.02%0180.04%0110.02%0300.08%01730.28%002880.06%0
 United Socialist Party1650.07%0230.04%001880.04%0
 Democratic Party1110.04%050.01%0110.02%020.01%0410.07%001700.04%0
 Socialist Equality Party1010.04%001010.02%0
Jana Setha Peramuna740.03%020.00%070.01%050.01%020.00%00900.02%0
Our National Front870.16%00870.02%0
Sri Lanka Labour Party160.01%040.01%070.01%020.01%030.00%00320.01%0
United Lanka Great Council60.01%010.00%060.02%020.00%00150.00%0
Nationalities Unity Organisation40.01%0100.03%00140.00%0
United Lanka People's Party20.01%060.01%0080.00%0
Muslim Liberation Front30.01%0030.00%0
Valid Votes253,542100.00%1645,459100.00%453,226100.00%535,982100.00%562,365100.00%62450,574100.00%38
Rejected Votes20,2794,7352,9892,8204,41635,239
Total Polled273,82150,19456,21538,80266,781485,813
Registered Electors426,81368,60075,73753,68394,644719,477
Turnout64.15%73.17%74.22%72.28%70.56%67.52%

North Western Province

Results of the 6th North Western Provincial Council election held on 21 September 2013:[32]

Alliances and partiesKurunegalaPuttalamBonus
Seats		Total
Votes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%Seats
 United People's Freedom Alliance540,51369.05%23164,67559.10%92705,18866.43%34
 United National Party169,66821.67%787,34331.34%50257,01124.21%12
 Democratic Party36,0964.61%210,0183.60%1046,1144.34%3
 Sri Lanka Muslim Congress17,1302.19%110,7303.85%1027,8602.62%2
 Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna16,3112.08%13,3131.19%0019,6241.85%1
Jana Setha Peramuna6270.08%01,1120.40%001,7390.16%0
 Independent lists8500.11%04480.16%001,2980.12%0
Nationalities Unity Organisation2320.03%05160.19%007480.07%0
Our National Front5410.07%02020.07%007430.07%0
Patriotic National Front2770.04%0980.04%003750.04%0
United Lanka Great Council1920.02%01600.06%003520.03%0
United Lanka People's Party2910.04%002910.03%0
Sri Lanka Labour Party510.01%0230.01%00740.01%0
Ruhuna People's Party530.01%0170.01%00700.01%0
Valid Votes782,832100.00%34278,655100.00%1621,061,487100.00%52
Rejected Votes36,56216,65353,215
Total Polled819,394295,3081,114,702
Registered Electors1,227,810526,4081,754,218
Turnout66.74%56.10%63.54%

References and footnotes

  1. ↑ "Districts wise Details of Provincial Councils" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Ranga Sirilal; Shihar Aneez (5 July 2013). "Sri Lanka to hold polls in ex-war zone for first time in 25 years". Reuters.
  3. 1 2 "Indo Sri Lanka Agreement, 1987". Tamil Nation.
  4. ↑ "Introduction". Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Government of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009.
  5. ↑ "Amendments to the 1978 Constitution". Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Government of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 17 August 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Selvanayagam, S. S. (17 October 2006). "North-East merger illegal: SC". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 3 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "Ethnic Conflict of Sri Lanka: Time Line - From Independence to 1999". International Centre for Ethnic Studies9. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009.
  8. ↑ Ferdinando, Shamindra (10 September 2000). "I'm no traitor, says Perumal". Sunday Island (Sri Lanka).
  9. ↑ Sri Nissanka, Jayantha (30 April 2002). "Central Provincial Council : UNF takes over". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  10. ↑ Wijewardena, Don Asoka (20 January 2010). "Devananda denies he signed pact with Govt". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  11. ↑ Peiris, Harim (1 May 2013). "TNA vs LTTE – The Northern Provincial Council stakes". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  12. ↑ Radhakrishnan, R. K. (11 July 2012). "Northern Province elections in September 2013, says Rajapaksa". The Hindu.
  13. ↑ "22/1 Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka" (PDF). United Nations Human Rights Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2014.
  14. ↑ Bastians, Dharisha (22 March 2013). "UNHRC triumphs over Lanka". Daily FT. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013.
  15. ↑ Srinivasan, Meera (5 July 2013). "Rajapaksa issues proclamation on NPC election". The Hindu.
  16. ↑ "President issues order to conduct Northern PC elections". Ceylon Today. 5 July 2013. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "NWP and CP Provincial Council to be dissolved". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 5 July 2013. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "Nominations for North, NWP and Central from July 25 - Aug 1". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 11 July 2013. Archived from the original on 11 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Nominations called for Provincial Council elections". Ceylon Today. 11 July 2013. Archived from the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  20. ↑ "Summary of Nomination Received and Rejected" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
  21. ↑ "Contesting Political Parties and Independent Groups" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
  22. ↑ "Polls on September 21". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 1 August 2013.
  23. ↑ "Date of Poll" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
  24. 1 2 The Ceylon Workers' Congress contested separately in two districts and with the UPFA in other districts.
  25. 1 2 The Communist Party of Sri Lanka contested with the Socialist Alliance in one district and with the UPFA in other districts.
  26. 1 2 The Democratic Left Front contested with the Socialist Alliance in one district and with the UPFA in other districts.
  27. 1 2 The Lanka Sama Samaja Party contested with the Socialist Alliance in one district and with the UPFA in other districts.
  28. 1 2 The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress contested separately in seven districts and with the UPFA in other districts.
  29. ↑ The TNA contested under and symbol of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi.
  30. ↑ "Provincial Council Elections 2013 : Central Province". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
  31. ↑ "Provincial Council Elections 2013 : Northern Province". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  32. ↑ "Provincial Council Elections 2013 : North Western Province". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
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