UPFA won EP election [update]

The United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance has achieved an outstanding victory in the first ever provincial council election in the eastern province. The UPFA received 308,886 votes and 20 seats in the eastern provincial council. The United National Party has received 15 seats.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and the Tamil Democratic National Alliance have received one seat each. The UNP has received 250,732 votes and the JVP received 9,390 votes.

The UPFA secured victory in seven out of ten polling divisions at yesterday’s election. These polling divisions are Ampara, Samanthurai, Potuvil, Seruvila, Kalkuda, Batticaloa and Padirippu. The UPFA has won the districts of Ampara and Batticaloa.

The party also won in all three districts in postal voting. Meanwhile, the UNP gained victory in the polling divisions of Kalmunai, Trincomalee and Muttur. The party also emerged victorious in the Trincomalee district. According to results released so far the UPFA has gained six seats in the Batticaloa district and four in the Trincomalee district. The UNP has gained four seats in the Batticaloa district and five in the Trincomalee district.

The Tamil Democratic National Alliance has gained one seat in the Batticaloa district. The JVP has gained one seat in the Trincomalee district. In the Ampara district the UPFA has gained eight seats and the UNP six seats.

A notable factor in the election is that the UNP lost the Batticaloa district which it won in the last presidential election. Over 60 percent have cast their vote in yesterday’s election while PAFFEREL says overall the election was conducted peacefully and in a free and fair manner.

The counting of preferential votes is now taking place. Retuning Officers believe that the outcome could be declared within today.