1977 Sri Lankan parliamentary election

The 1977 Sri Lankan election heralded the beginning of a new period of Sri Lanka's history - a period of unprecedented violence.

8th Sri Lankan parliamentary election
21 July 1977
All 168 seats to the National State Assembly
85 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Junius Richard Jayewardene A. Amirthalingam Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Party United National Party Tamil United Liberation Front Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Leader since 1973 1977 1960
Leader's seat Colombo West Kankesanthurai Attanagalla
Last election 17 Seats, 37.91% New Party 91 Seats, 36.86%
Seats won 140 18 8
Seat change 123 18 83
Popular vote 3,179,221 421,488 1,855,331
Percentage 50.92% 6.75% 29.72%
Winners of polling divisions. UNP in green, TULF in yellow and SLFP in blue.
Prime Minister before election

Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Sri Lanka Freedom Party

 Prime Minister-designate

Junius Richard Jayewardene
United National Party

Background

Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike had become extraordinarily unpopular. Her economic policies had led to industrial growth and self-reliance, but was insufficient to overcome unemployment. Constitutionally, she had taken advantage of the 1972 constitution to delay the election until 1977, instead of 1975 as would have been the case under the old Soulbury constitution. The government's strong Sinhala nationalist stance had led to unrest in the Tamil north; in response, an island-wide state of emergency was imposed, causing hardship to many people. The UF coalition Bandaranaike had built for the 1970 elections had disintegrated.

By contrast, the United National Party had made a surprising comeback since its 1970 humiliation. Under the leadership of J.R. Jayewardene it had assiduously built up its ground organization. The UNP promised to solve the ethnic problem with a devolution package. Economically, it proposed opening up the Sri Lankan economy again. Constitutionally, the UNP called for replacing the Westminster-based political system with one modelled along French lines. Most importantly, it promised a free extra ration of eight pounds of cereal (the so-called eta ata), on top of the existing ration of two kilograms of rice.

More portentous was the status of the Tamil parties. The old federalist Tamil parties had merged to form the Tamil United Liberation Front, led by Appapillai Amirthalingam, which had gone beyond regional autonomy to openly call for independence of the Tamil-speaking regions of the country.

Results

The UNP won the largest landslide in Sri Lankan history, taking over half the vote and 140 of the 168 seats, five-sixths of the legislature. The size of the landslide was magnified by the first-past-the-post system. The SLFP was decimated, falling from 91 seats to only eight–easily the worst defeat that a Sri Lankan governing party has ever suffered, and one of the worst ever suffered by a governing party in a Westminster system.

For the first time, a Tamil party won the second-highest number of seats in Parliament and became the Official Opposition.

Abeyratne Pilapitiya of the UNP was elected MP for Kalawana, but was subsequently unseated in an election petition. Sarath Muttetuwegama of the Communist Party was returned to Parliament in the ensuing by-election.

The 1977 election was the only one ever held under the 1972 constitution.[1] A year later, the UNP-dominated legislature amended the constitution to replace the parliamentary system with a presidential system. Under the provisions of the new document, Prime Minister Jayewardene became president on 4 February 1978.

 Summary of the 1977 Sri Lankan parliamentary election[2]
PartyCandidatesVotes%Seats
 United National Party1543,179,22150.92%140
 Tamil United Liberation Front23421,4886.75%18
 Sri Lanka Freedom Party1471,855,33129.72%8
 Ceylon Workers' Congress262,7071.00%1
 Lanka Sama Samaja Party82225,3173.61%0
 Communist Party of Sri Lanka25123,8561.98%0
 Mahajana Eksath Peramuna2722,6390.36%0
Others295353,0145.65%1
Valid Votes7556,243,573100.00%168
Rejected Votes
Total Votes Polled
Total Electors Polled[lower-alpha 1]
Registered Electors6,667,589
Turnout

Electorate Results

Colombo District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Colombo North M. Vincent Perera Elephant
Colombo Central R.Premadasa Elephant
Colombo Central M.Jabir A. Cader Eye
Colombo Central M.Haleem Ishak Hand
Borella M.H.Mohomed Elephant
Colombo East A.Edmund Samarawickrema Elephant
Colombo West J.R.Jayewardene Elephant
Dehiwala S. de S. Jayasinghe Elephant
Ratmalana Lalith Athulathmudali Elephant
Kolonnawa Weerasinghe Mallimarachchi Elephant
Kotte Anandatissa de Alwis Elephant
Kaduwela M.D.H. Jayawardana Elephant
Awissawella M.D.Premarathna Eephant
Homagama Gamini Jayasuriya Elephant
Maharagama Premaratne Gunasekera Elephant
Kesbewa Dharmasena Attygalle Elephant
Moratuwa Tyronne Fernando Elephant

Gampaha District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Wattala D. Shelton Jayasinghe Elephant
Negambo N. Denzil Fernando Elephant
Katana Wijayapala Mendis Elephant
Divulapitiya Ariyaratne Jayatillake Elephant
Mirigama Mahendra Wijeratne Elephant
Minuwangoda Bennet Gunasekera Elephant
Attanagalla Sirimavo Bandaranaike Hand
Gampaha S. D. Bandaranayake Hand
Ja-ela Joseph Michael Perera Elephant
Mahara Tudor Gunasekara Elephant
Dompe Sarathchandra Rajakaruna Elephant
Biyagama Ranil Wickremasinghe Elephant
Kelaniya Kaluwadewage Cyril Mathew Elephant

Kalutara District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Panadura Neville Fernando Elephant
Bandaragama Senaraja Samaranayake Elephant
Horana Indradasa Hettiarachchi Elephant
Bulathsinhala O.S. Perera Elephant
Mathugama Reginold V. Wijegooneratne Elephant
Kalutara V.L.Wijemanne Elephant
Beruwala Abdul Bakeer Markar Elephant
Agalawatta Merill Kariyawasam Elephant

Matale District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Dambulla K.W.R.M.Ekananayake Elephant
Laggala J.G.Wijeratne Banda Elephant
Matale Alick Aluvihare Elephant
Rattota P.B.Kaviratne Elephant

Kandy District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Galagedara W.M.G.T. Banda Elephant
Harispattuwa Abdul Cader Shahul Hameed Elephant
Harispattuwa R. Premachandra Wijesiri Umbrella
Pathadumbara T. B. Werapitiya Elephant
Udadumbara R.B. Attanayake Elephant
Teldeniya Gamini Rajapakse Elephant
Kundasale D.M. Chandrapala Elephant
Hewaheta Anura Daniel Elephant
Senkadagala Shelton Ranaraja Elephant
Mahanuwara E.L. Senanayake Elephant
Yatinuwara Sunil Subasiri Abeysundara Elephant
Udunuwara D.B. Wijetunga Elephant
Gampola W.P.B. Dissanayake Elephant

Nuwaraeliya District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Navalapitiya Chandradra Karunaratne Elephant
Nuwaraeliya Maskeliya Gamini Dissanayake Elephant
Nuwaraeliya Maskeliya Anura Bandaranaike Hand
Nuwaraeliya Maskeliya S. Thondaman Cockerei
Kothmale Ananda Dassanayake Hand
Hanguranketha George Abeygoonasekera Elephant
Walapane Renuka Herath (Mrs.) Elephant

Galle District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Balapitiya Norman Waidyaratna Elephant
Ambalangoda Raitor Thilakasekara Elephant
Karandeniya Bandulahewa Senadheera Elephant
Bentara-Elpitiya Rupasena Karunatilake Elephant
Hiniduma M.S. Amarasiri Elephant
Baddegama E.D. Wickrematilaka Elephant
Rathgma Edwin Thilakaratne Elephant
Galle Albert de Silva Elephant
Akmeemana Sumanadasa Abeywickrama Elephant
Habaraduwa P. Sumathiratne Elephant

Matara District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Deniyaya Keerthisena Abeywickrama Elephant
Hakmana Harshanath Wanigasekara Elephant
Akuressa Dayananda Wickremasinghe Elephant
Kamburupitiya D.E. Malawaraarachchi Elephant
Devinuwara Ronnie de Mel Elephant
Matara S.K. Piyadasa Elephant
Weligama Montague Jayawickrema Elephant

Hambantota District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Mulkirigala T.D.Fransisku Elephant
Beliatta Ranjith Atapattu Elephant
Tangalle Jinadasa Weerasinghe Elephant
Tissamaharama P.M.B. Cyril Elephant

Jaffna District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Kayts K.P. Ratnam Sun
Waddukkodai T. Thirunavukarasu Sun
Kankesanthurai A. Amirthalingam Sun
Manipay V. Dharmalingam Sun
Kopai S. Kathiravelupillai Sun
Udduppidi T. Rasalingam Sun
Point-Pedro K. Thurairatnam Sun
Chavakachcheri V.N. Navaratnam Sun
Nallur M. Sivasithamparam Sun
Jaffna V. Yogeswaran Sun

Vanni District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Kilinochchi V. Anandasangary Sun
Mannar P.S. Soosaithasan Sun
Mulativu X.M.Sellathambu Sun
Vavuniya T. Sivasithamparam Sun

Trincomalee District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Seruvila H.D.L. Leelaratne Elephant
Mutur M.E.H. Maharoof Elephant
Trincomalee R. Sampathan Sun

Batticalao District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Kalkudah K.W. Devanayagam Elephant
Batticaloa C.Rajadurai & Farid Meeralebbai Sun & Elephant
Paddiruppu P. Ganeshalingam Sun

Ampara District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Ampara P. Dayaratna Elephant
Sammanthurai M. A. Abdul Majeed Elephant
Kalmunai Abdul Rasak Mansoor Elephant
Potuvil M.A.M. Jalaldeen & C.Kanagaratnam Elephant & -Sun

Puttalam District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Puttalam M.H.M. Neina Marikkar Elephant
Anamaduwa Saddhatissa Wadigamangawa Hand
Chilaw Harindra Corea Elephant
Nattandiya Harold Herath Elephant
Wennappuwa Festus Perera Elephant

Kurunegala District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Galgamuwa H.M.A. Lokubanda Elephant
Nikaweratiya H.B. Wanninayake Elephant
Yapahuwa H.B. Abeyratne Elephant
Hiriyala S.B. Herath Elephant
Wariyapola Amarawathie Piyaseeli Ratnayake (Mrs.) Elephant
Panduwasnuwara Kalubanda Ratnayake Elephant
Bingiriya J.L. Sirisena Elephant
Katugampola Jayawicrema Perera Elephant
Kuliyapitiya Lionel Jayatillake Elephant
Dambadeniya Ukkubanda Wijekoon Elephant
Polgahawela J.A.D.S. R. Jayakody Elephant
Kurunegala Dingiri Banda Welagedera Elephant
Mawathagama G.M. Premachandra Elephant
Dodangaslanda S.W. Alawatuwala Elephant

Anuradapura District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Medawachchiya Maithripala Senanayake Hand
Horoupothana E.L.B.Hurulle Elephant
Anuradhapura East W.Y. Herath Elephant
Anuradhapura West K.D.M.C. Bandara Elephant
Kalawewa A.M.S. Adikari Elephant
Mihintale Dayaratne Walagambahu Elephant
Kekirawa G.D. Mahindsoma Elephant

Polonnaruwa District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Minneriya Merril de Silva Elephant
Medirigiriya A.D.B. Ekanayake Elephant
Polonnaruwa H.G.P. Nelson

Badulla District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Mahiyangana C.P.J.Seneviratne Elephant
Viyaluwa Weerawanni Samaraweera Elephant
Passara W.M. Karunaratne Elephant
Badulla D. Vincent Dias Elephant
Hali-ela R.M. Abeykoon Elephant
Uva-paranagama R.M. Karunaratne Elephant
Welimada Percy Samaraweera Elephant
Bandarawela R.M.Apphamy Elephant
Haputale W.J.M.Lokubandara Elephant

Monaragala District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Bibile R.M.Dharmadasa Banda Elephant
Moneragala R.M. Punchi Bandara Elephant
Wellawaya J.M. Kumaradasa Elephant

Kegalle District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Dedigama Nissanka Parakrama Wijayaratne Elephant
Galigamuwa Wimala Kannangara (Mrs.) Elephant
Kegalle N.A. Seneviratne Elephant
Rambukkana Asoka Karunaratne Elephant
Mawanella C.R. Beligammana Elephant
Aranayaka Wasantha Udayaratne Elephant
Yatiyantota K. Vincent Perera Elephant
Ruwanwella P.C. Imbulana Elephant
Deraniyagala A.K.D. Wanigaratne Elephant

Ratnapura District
Electorate Name of the Elected Symbol
Ehaliyagoda Mervyn Kularatne Elephant
Ratnapura G.V. Punchinilame Elephant
Pelmadulla Chandrasekera Gankanda Elephant
Balangoda M.L.M.Aboosally Elephant
Rakwana H. Kularatne Elephant
Nivitigala Gamini Athukorale Elephant
Kalawana Abeyratna Pilapitiya Elephant
Kolonna Caluwadewage Nanda Mathew Elephant


Source [3]

Notes
  1. Total electors polled is less than total votes polled due to multiple-member seats where electors can cast more than one vote.

References
  1. 1977 Parliamentary Elections Results. Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
  2. "Table 38 Parliament Election (1977)". Sri Lanka Statistics. 10 February 2009.
  3. 1977 Parliamentary Elections Results. Official Website, Department of Elections, Sri Lanka.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.