2009 Sri Lanka Central and North Western Provincial Council elections

The Sri Lanka provincial council elections, 2009 were held on February 14, 2009 to elect members to Sri Lanka’s Central Provincial Council and North Western Provincial Council. The 2 councils were dissolved by their respective governors at midnight on December 8, 2008.[1] The Elections Commission subsequently accepted nominations from December 24 to December 31, and set the date for the polls.

Elections will be held in February for two of the nine provinces in the country

A total of 1,746,449 people were eligible to vote in the Central Province, along with 1,661,733 in the North Western Province. They elected 56 and 50 members for the councils respectively. By the close of nominations, 1320 candidates from 15 political parties and 26 independent groups registered to contest the Central Provincial Council, and 937 candidates from 15 political parties and 17 independent groups filed nominations for the North Western Provincial Council.[2]

Buoyed by support for his handling of the Sri Lankan Civil War, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's United People's Freedom Alliance achieved resounding victories in all 5 districts. This included the districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, which are traditionally seen as strongholds of the opposition United National Party.

Past elections

In the last election held to elect members to the Central Provincial Council, the United People's Freedom Alliance secured a majority in the council, obtaining 426,297 votes and 30 seats as opposed to 410,145 votes and 26 seats for the United National Party. The UPFA also secured a majority in the North Western Provincial Council, obtaining 491,000 votes and 31 seats with 311,773 votes and 19 seats going to the UNP.[3]

Contesting political parties

Parties contesting in all 5 districts


Political Party Symbol Mahanuwara Matale Nuwara Eliya Kurunegala Puttalam
United People's Freedom Alliance Betel Leaf Y Y Y Y Y
United National Party Elephant Y Y Y Y Y
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Bell Y Y Y Y Y
Patriotic National Front Flag Y Y Y Y Y

Parties contesting in 4 districts


Political Party Symbol Mahanuwara Matale Nuwara Eliya Kurunegala Puttalam
Eksath Lanka Maha Sabha Fountain Pen Y Y Y Y - *
Nationals Peoples Party Electric Bulb Y Y Y - Y
Ruhunu Janatha Party Motor Car Y Y Y - Y
Sri Lanka Progressive Front Flower Vase Y Y - Y Y
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya Aeroplane - * Y Y Y Y

Parties contesting in 3 districts


Political Party Symbol Mahanuwara Matale Nuwara Eliya Kurunegala Puttalam
United National Alliance Swan - Y - Y Y
United Socialist Party Try-shaw Y - Y - Y
Jathika Sangwardena Peramuna Coconut - * Y Y - Y

Parties contesting in 2 districts


Political Party Symbol Mahanuwara Matale Nuwara Eliya Kurunegala Puttalam
Eksath Lanka Podujana Pakshaya Cup - Y Y - * -
Left Front Table - Y Y - * -
Socialist Equality Party Pair of Scissors - - Y - Y

Parties contesting in only 1 districts


Political Party Symbol Mahanuwara Matale Nuwara Eliya Kurunegala Puttalam
The Liberal Party Book - - Y - -

* - indicates nominations were submitted, but rejected by the Elections Commission

Results

Central Province
 Summary of the February 14, 2009 Sri Lanka Central Provincial Council election results
Party Kandy Matale Nuwara Eliya Seats Popular Vote
Votes Seats Votes Seats Votes Seats 2004 2009 +/− Vote %
  United People's Freedom Alliance 363,490 18 140,295 7 146,418 9 30 [1]36 +6 650,203  59.53%
  United National Party 237,827 12 56,009 3 128,289 7 26 22 −4 422,125  38.65%
Total 643,617 30 218,406 10 309,666 16 58 58 0 1,167,336  100%
Voter turnout:   66.84 %
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Elections

Notes:

1. ^ Includes 2 bonus seats

North Western Province
 Summary of the February 14, 2009 Sri Lanka North Western Provincial Council election results
Party Kurunegala Puttalam Seats Popular Vote
Votes Seats Votes Seats 2004 2009 +/− Vote %
  United People's Freedom Alliance 497,366 24 171,377 11 31 [1]37 +6 668,743  69.43%
  United National Party 193,548 9 76,799 5 19 14 −5 270,347  28.07%
  Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 16,084 1 4,344 0 [2]0 1 +1 20,428  2.12%
Total 735,846 34 274,014 16 52 52 0 1,009,860  100%
Voter turnout:   60.77 %
Source: Sri Lanka Department of Elections

Notes:

1. ^ Includes 2 bonus seats
2. ^ Contested in 2004 as part of the UPFA

See also
  • Sri Lanka Provincial Council elections, 2008/09

References
  1. NW, Central PCs dissolved, The Daily Mirror
  2. Seventeen political parties, forty three independent groups contesting Archived 2009-05-11 at the Wayback Machine, Daily News
  3. THE NUMBERS GAME, The Nation
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