Jaffna Municipal Council
Jaffna Municipal Council (Tamil: யாழ்ப்பாணம் மாநகர சபை, romanized: Yāḻppāṇam Mānakara Capai; JMC) is the local authority for the city of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka. JMC is responsible for providing a variety of local public services including roads, sanitation, drains, housing, libraries, public parks and recreational facilities. Established in January 1949 as a successor to Jaffna Urban Council, it currently has 45 members elected using the mixed electoral system.
Jaffna Municipal Council யாழ்ப்பாணம் மாநகர சபை | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | Local authority of Jaffna |
History | |
Founded | 1 January 1949 |
Preceded by | Jaffna Urban Council |
Leadership | |
Deputy Mayor | |
R. T. Jeyaseelan | |
Structure | |
Seats | 45 |
Political groups | Government (16)
Opposition (29) |
Length of term | 4 years + 1 year |
Elections | |
Mixed | |
Last election | 8 February 2018 |
Website | |
Jaffna Municipal Council |
History
The first organised local government for the city of Jaffna was the sanitary board established under the Sanitary Boards Ordinance No. 18 of 1892.[1] The board consisted of the local Government Agent (chair) and other local officials from the British administration.[1] A local board was established in July 1906 under the Local Boards Ordinance No. 13 of 1898.[1] The board consisted of six members, three official (including the Government Agent who was chair) and three unofficial representing three wards - central, eastern and western.[1] The local board was responsible for establishing the grand bazaar, small bazaar in Gurunagar and the rest house.[1]
A ten member urban district council (UDC) was established in January 1923 under the Local Government Ordinance No. 11 of 1920.[1] Two of its members were nominated and eight were elected, representing eight wards.[1] The UDC had an area of 8½ square miles and a population of 42,346.[1] The UDC, which was based in a small office at Jaffna Kachcheri, required new premises and the Ridgeway Memorial Hall on the esplanade was identified as a suitable location.[1] Ridgeway Memorial Hall was demolished and new premises, whose foundations were laid by chairman R. R. Nalliah, constructed.[1] The building was formally opened by Governor Reginald Edward Stubbs on 9 June 1936.[1] Subsequently a town hall was built on the site and officially opened by Waithilingam Duraiswamy, Speaker of the State Council.[1]
A twelve member Jaffna Urban Council was established in January 1940 under the Urban Councils Ordinance No. 61 of 1939.[1] Two of its members were nominated and ten were elected.[1] The urban council had the same powers and functions as the UDC but franchise was extended to include women.[1] A fifteen member Jaffna Municipal Council was established in January 1949 under the Municipal Council Ordinance No. 29 of 1947.[1] The fifteen members were elected from fifteen wards.[1] A lack of storage space resulted in the municipal council purchasing premises east of Front Street in 1955.[1] The number of members and wards was increased to 23 in 1968.[1] Mayor of Jaffna Alfred Duraiappah was assassinated by the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on 27 July 1975.[2][3][4]
On 10 April 1985 the LTTE attacked Jaffna police station, located next to the town hall, causing serious damage to the town hall.[5][6] Numerous other municipal council facilities including the library, rest house, open air theatre and grand bazaar were damaged beyond repair during the civil war.[1] As a result of the damage caused to the town hall the municipal council was forced to re-locate to premises on Point Pedro Road on land leased from Nallur Kandaswamy temple.[7]
The Local Authorities (Amendment) Act Nos. 20 and 24 of 1987 changed the method of electing all local authority members from the first past the post using wards to proportional representation using open lists.[8][9] Mayors Sarojini Yogeswaran and Pon Sivapalan were assassinated by the LTTE on 17 May 1998 and 11 September 1998 respectively.[10][11][12][13][14]
On 10 October 2012 Parliament passed the Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Act, No. 21 of 2012 and Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 22 of 2012, changing the electoral system for electing local authority members from open list proportional representation to a mixed electoral system whereby 70% of members would be elected using first past the post voting and the remaining 30% through closed list proportional representation.[15][16][17][18] On 25 August 2017 Parliament passed Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 16 of 2017 which, amongst things, changed the ratio between first past the post and proportional representation from 70:30 to 60:40.[19][20][21]
Wards
JMC currently has 27 single member wards.[22][23]
Ward no. |
Ward name |
VOD no. |
Village officer division name |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Vannarpannai North | J098 | Vannarpannai North |
J099 | Vannarpannai North West (part) | ||
2 | Kantharmadam North West | J100 | Vannarpannai North East |
J102 | Kantharmadam North West | ||
J123 | Kokuvil South East (part) | ||
3 | Kantharmadam North East | J103 | Kantharmadam North East |
4 | Nallur Irajathani | J106 | Nallur North |
J107 | Nallur Irajathani | ||
J108 | Nallur South | ||
5 | Sangiliyan Thoppu | J109 | Sangiliyan Thoppu |
6 | Ariyalai | J094 | Ariyalai Central North (part) |
J095 | Ariyalai Central | ||
J096 | Ariyalai Central South | ||
7 | Kalaigakal | J091 | Ariyalai North West |
8 | Kantharmadam South | J104 | Kantharmadam South West |
J105 | Kantharmadam South East | ||
9 | Iyanar Kovilady | J097 | Iyanar Kovilady |
J101 | Neeraviyady | ||
10 | New Moor Street | J088 | New Moor Street |
11 | Navanthurai North | J085 | Navanthurai North |
12 | Navanthurai South | J084 | Navanthurai South |
13 | Old Moor Street | J086 | Moor Street South |
J087 | Moor Street North | ||
14 | Grand Bazaar | J080 | Grand Bazaar (Mega Bazaar) |
J082 | Vannarpannai | ||
15 | Attiaddy | J078 | Attiaddy |
J079 | Sirambiady | ||
16 | Chundikuli Maruthady | J076 | Chundikuli North |
J077 | Maruthady | ||
17 | Ariyalai West | J092 | Ariyalai West (Central) |
J093 | Ariyalai South West | ||
18 | Columbuthurai | J061 | Nedunkulam |
J062 | Columbuthurai East | ||
J063 | Columbuthurai West | ||
19 | Passaiyoor | J064 | Passaiyoor East |
J065 | Passaiyoor West | ||
20 | Eachchamoddai | J066 | Eachchamoddai |
21 | Cathedral | J075 | Chundikuli South |
22 | Thirunagar | J067 | Thirunagar |
23 | Gurunagar | J070 | Gurunagar East |
J071 | Gurunagar West | ||
24 | Jaffna Town | J073 | Jaffna Town West |
J074 | Jaffna Town East | ||
25 | Koddady Fort | J081 | Fort |
J083 | Koddady | ||
26 | Reclamation West | J069 | Reclamation West |
J072 | Small Bazaar | ||
27 | Reclamation East | J068 | Reclamation East |
Mayors
The current Mayor of Jaffna is V. Manivannan of the Tamil National People's Front.
Election results
1983 local government election
Results of the local government election held on 18 May 1983:[24]
Alliances and parties | Votes | % | Seats | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tamil United Liberation Front | 8,594 | 88.63% | 23 | |
United National Party | 830 | 8.56% | 0 | |
All Ceylon Tamil Congress | 272 | 2.81% | 0 | |
Valid Votes | 9,696 | 100.00% | 23 | |
Rejected Votes | 74 | |||
Total Polled | 9,770 | |||
Registered Electors | 66,921 | |||
Turnout | 14.60% |
The Sri Lankan government suspended all local government in the north and east of the country in 1983 using emergency regulations.[25] The civil war prevented elections from being held for JMC until 1998.[26]
In March 1994 elections were held in the east and in Vavuniya in the north. However, elections weren't held in other areas of the north, including the Jaffna peninsula, because most of these areas were at that time controlled by the rebel LTTE. In August 1995 the Sri Lankan military launched an offensive to recapture the Jaffna peninsula. By December 1995 the military had captured most of the Valikamam region of the peninsula, including the city of Jaffna. By 16 May 1996 the military had recaptured the entire peninsula.[27] In late 1996 the government announced elections would be held for 23 local authorities in Jaffna District, Kilinochchi District, Mannar District and Vavuniya District but following opposition from Tamil political parties postponed them.[28] On 3 December 1997 the government announced that elections would be held for the 17 local authorities on the Jaffna peninsula.[29] The Tamil political parties were still opposed to holding elections as "normalcy" hadn't returned to the peninsula. The peninsula was under the firm grip of the Sri Lankan military and civil government had little, if any, role in the administration of the peninsula. The Tamil Tigers were also firmly against the elections being held. Despite these objections the elections were held on 29 January 1998.
1998 local government election
Results of the local government election held on 29 January 1998:[30][31]
Alliances and parties | Votes | % | Seats | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tamil United Liberation Front | 3,540 | 33.31% | 9 | |
Democratic People's Liberation Front (PLOTE) | 3,182 | 29.94% | 6 | |
Eelam People's Democratic Party | 2,963 | 27.88% | 6 | |
Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front | 943 | 8.87% | 2 | |
Valid Votes | 10,628 | 100.00% | 23 | |
Rejected Votes | 907 | |||
Total Polled | 11,535 | |||
Registered Electors | 82,667 | |||
Turnout | 13.95% |
On 1 January 2002 local authority elections were called for the entire country.[32][33] It was later announced that elections would be held on 25 March 2002 in the north and east, and on 20 March 2002 in the rest of the country.[34][35] The normal life term of Sri Lankan local government bodies is four years. The life term of JMC expired in February 2002 but the central government extended this by another year, as the law allows. On 21 March 2002 the Election Commissioner announced that the elections in the north and east, except for eight local authorities in Ampara District, had been postponed until 25 September 2002.[36][37] On 17 September 2002 elections in the north and east were postponed, for a second time, until 25 June 2003.[38] Elections should have been held when the extension expired in February 2003 but in January 2003, following a request from the Tamil National Alliance, the central government instead dissolved JMC using emergency powers and instead put in place special commissioners to administer the local area.[39] In June 2003 elections in the north and east were postponed, for a third time, until 24 January 2004.[40] In January 2004 elections in the north and east, except for local authorities in Ampara District, were postponed, for a fourth time, until 23 October 2004.[41]
On 27 January 2006 local authority elections were called for the entire country.[42][43] It was later announced that elections would be held on 30 March 2006 across the entire country.[44] The Election Commissioner subsequently postponed the elections in the north and Batticaloa District until 30 September 2006.[45] On 23 September 2006 elections in the north and Batticaloa District were postponed until 30 June 2007.[46][47]
JMC continued to be administered by special commissioners until the 2009 elections.
2009 local government election
Results of the local government election held on 8 August 2009:[48]
Alliances and parties | Votes | % | Seats | |
---|---|---|---|---|
United People's Freedom Alliance (EPDP, SLFP, ACMC et al.) | 10,602 | 50.67% | 13 | |
Tamil National Alliance (ITAK, EPRLF (S), TELO) | 8,008 | 38.28% | 8 | |
Independent 1 | 1,175 | 5.62% | 1 | |
Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF, PLOTE, EPRLF (V)) | 1,007 | 4.81% | 1 | |
United National Party | 83 | 0.40% | 0 | |
Independent 2 | 47 | 0.22% | 0 | |
Valid Votes | 20,922 | 100.00% | 23 | |
Rejected Votes | 1,358 | |||
Total Polled | 22,280 | |||
Registered Electors | 100,417 | |||
Turnout | 22.19% |
The following candidates were elected:[49] Mudiyappu Remediyas (TNA), 4,223 preference votes (pv); Thurairajah Illango alias Regan (UPFA-EPDP), 3,387 pv; Mohamed Sultan Moulavi Sufian (Ind 1), 1,779 pv; Anthonypillai Mariamma (TNA), 1,678 pv; Murugiah Komahan (UPFA-EPDP), 1,573 pv; Vinthan Kanagaratnam (TNA), 1,442 pv; Manuel Mangaleswaran alias Nesapriyan (UPFA-EPDP), 1,394 pv; Meerasahib Mohamed Rameez (UPFA-ACMC), 1,338 pv; Yogeswari Patkunarajah (UPFA-EPDP), 1,250 pv; Pilevian Expedith Cracian (UPFA-EPDP), 1,166 pv; Nadarajah Rajathevan (TNA), 1,118 pv; Benjamin Jacob (TNA), 1,039 pv; Mohamed Merasahib Mustafa (UPFA-ACMC), 1,029 pv; Manikkam Kanagaraththinam (UPFA-EPDP), 1,025 pv; A. Paranjothy (TNA), 1,007 pv; Sutharsingh Vijiyakanth (UPFA-EPDP), 989 pv; Asker Roomi Badurtheen (UPFA-ACMC), 979 pv; Ajmaeen Asfar (UPFA-ACMC), 960 pv; Suvikaran Nishanthan (UPFA-EPDP), 896 pv; Anthonipillai Cilapotasious (UPFA-EPDP), 889 pv; Mariyakorattry Anton (TNA), 881 pv; Arulappu Korneliyas (TNA), 826 pv; and V. Anandasangaree (TULF) 424 pv.
Yogeswari Patkunarajah (UPFA-EPDP) and Thurairajah Illango (UPFA-EPDP) were appointed Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively.[50] Mudiyappu Remediyas of the TNA was appointed as the Opposition Leader of the Council but he crossed over to the UPFA in June 2011.[51]
Suvikaran Nishanthan (UPFA-EPDP) ceased to be member of JMC in January 2012 after ceasing to be a member of the UPFA.[52] He was replaced by Selvarasah Iramanan (UPFA). Thurairajah Illango (UPFA-EPDP) resigned from being Deputy Mayor and was replaced by Meerasahib Mohamed Rameez (UPFA-ACMC).[52]
2018 local government election
Results of the local government election held on 8 February 2018:[53]
Alliances and parties | Votes | % | Seats | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ward | PR | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tamil National Alliance (ITAK, PLOTE, TELO) | 14,424 | 35.76% | 14 | 2 | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tamil National People's Front (ACTC) | 12,020 | 29.80% | 9 | 4 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eelam People's Democratic Party | 8,671 | 21.50% | 2 | 8 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
United National Front (UNP, SLMC, ACMC et al.) | 2,423 | 6.01% | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sri Lanka Freedom Party | 1,479 | 3.67% | 0 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF, EPRLF) | 1,071 | 2.66% | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna | 242 | 0.60% | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Valid Votes | 40,330 | 100.00% | 27 | 18 | 45 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rejected Votes | 586 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Polled | 40,916 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Registered Electors | 56,245 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Turnout | 72.75% |
Results by ward:[54]
Ward no. | Ward name | TNA | TNPF | EPDP | UNF | SLFP | TULF/ EPRLF | JVP | Valid Votes | Rejected Votes | Total Polled |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vannarpannai North | 602 | 607 | 188 | 21 | 23 | 15 | 3 | 1,459 | 18 | 1,477 |
2 | Kantharmadam North West | 787 | 664 | 264 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 4 | 1,839 | 32 | 1,871 |
3 | Kantharmadam North East | 401 | 345 | 81 | 283 | 49 | 8 | 2 | 1,169 | 20 | 1,189 |
4 | Nallur Irajathani | 834 | 742 | 273 | 42 | 106 | 41 | 6 | 2,044 | 29 | 2,073 |
5 | Sangiliyan Thoppu | 705 | 622 | 215 | 162 | 51 | 41 | 4 | 1,800 | 20 | 1,820 |
6 | Ariyalai | 561 | 588 | 215 | 42 | 252 | 15 | 20 | 1,693 | 26 | 1,719 |
7 | Kalaigakal | 144 | 351 | 156 | 266 | 124 | 8 | 71 | 1,120 | 12 | 1,132 |
8 | Kantharmadam South | 401 | 535 | 72 | 111 | 25 | 10 | 10 | 1,164 | 15 | 1,179 |
9 | Iyanar Kovilady | 488 | 666 | 144 | 269 | 35 | 20 | 2 | 1,624 | 17 | 1,641 |
10 | New Moor Street | 246 | 40 | 182 | 42 | 34 | 9 | 0 | 553 | 7 | 560 |
11 | Navanthurai North | 524 | 369 | 324 | 32 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1,261 | 74 | 1,335 |
12 | Navanthurai South | 320 | 315 | 429 | 43 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1,117 | 19 | 1,136 |
13 | Old Moor Street | 568 | 109 | 315 | 598 | 120 | 9 | 6 | 1,725 | 23 | 1,748 |
14 | Grand Bazaar | 504 | 388 | 352 | 45 | 20 | 28 | 11 | 1,348 | 9 | 1,357 |
15 | Attiaddy | 478 | 479 | 432 | 25 | 42 | 12 | 2 | 1,470 | 16 | 1,486 |
16 | Chundikuli Maruthady | 595 | 529 | 249 | 10 | 88 | 12 | 2 | 1,485 | 19 | 1,504 |
17 | Ariyalai West | 519 | 562 | 121 | 16 | 76 | 14 | 6 | 1,314 | 21 | 1,335 |
18 | Columbuthurai | 830 | 820 | 724 | 27 | 49 | 191 | 30 | 2,671 | 38 | 2,709 |
19 | Passaiyoor | 642 | 231 | 563 | 45 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1,490 | 12 | 1,502 |
20 | Eachchamoddai | 389 | 615 | 225 | 65 | 20 | 24 | 3 | 1,341 | 14 | 1,355 |
21 | Cathedral | 289 | 318 | 141 | 72 | 15 | 145 | 8 | 988 | 6 | 994 |
22 | Thirunagar | 55 | 22 | 175 | 1 | 23 | 311 | 2 | 589 | 9 | 598 |
23 | Gurunagar | 631 | 353 | 464 | 10 | 37 | 22 | 16 | 1,533 | 23 | 1,556 |
24 | Jaffna Town | 596 | 513 | 387 | 15 | 30 | 21 | 11 | 1,573 | 19 | 1,592 |
25 | Koddady Fort | 607 | 314 | 591 | 102 | 167 | 14 | 9 | 1,804 | 37 | 1,841 |
26 | Reclamation West | 1,123 | 521 | 576 | 31 | 29 | 11 | 4 | 2,295 | 23 | 2,318 |
27 | Reclamation East | 585 | 402 | 813 | 8 | 16 | 30 | 7 | 1,861 | 28 | 1,889 |
Total | 14,424 | 12,020 | 8,671 | 2,423 | 1,479 | 1,071 | 242 | 40,330 | 586 | 40,916 |
The following candidates were elected:[55] Jesurajah Mary Anjala (TNA-Gurunagar), Paramalingam Anushiya (EPDP-PR), E. Arnold (TNA-ITAK-Passaiyoor), Mahalingam Arulkumaran (TNA-Grand Bazaar), Necolas Mariyathas Balachandran (TNA-Navanthurai North), Flavian Expedith Crasian (TNA-Reclamation West), Solomon Cyril (TNA-Chundikuli Maruthady), Crasian Damian (EPDP-PR), Thurairajah Eesan (TNA-TELO-Columbuthurai), Thurairasa Ilango (EPDP-PR), Likori Clement Jeyaseelan (TNPF-Cathedral), Rajaratnam Kanesarajah (TNPF-Vannarpannai North), Vaithilingam Kirubakaran (TNPF-Ariyalai West), Karthikesu Velum Mayilum Kugenthiran (EPDP-PR), Sinnathurai Kulenthirarajah (UNF-PR), Nadarajah Logathayalan (TNA-PR), Vishvalingam Manivannan (TNPF-PR), Mahenthiran Mayooran (TNPF-Attiaddy), Jeyanthini Nageswaran (EPDP-PR), Muththu Muhammathu Muhammathu Nibahir (TNA-New Moor Street), Kathiravel Niththiyananthan (TNA-Jaffna Town), Kachcha Mohamed Mahamed Niyas (UNF-Old Moor Street), Subajini Antony Panadsha (TNPF-PR), Varatharajan Partheepan (TNPF-Kantharmadam South), Balasubramaniam Pathmamurali (TNPF-Ariyalai), Yogeswari Patkunarajah (EPDP-PR), Neekilapillai Philiph (EPDP-Navanthurai South), Nalina Premlal (TNA-PR), Jeyakkumar Rajeevkanth (TNPF-Kalaigakal), Ramalingam Rakini (TNA-Nallur Irajathani), Mudiyappu Remidius (EPDP-PR), Sebamalaimuththu Sathiyasekaran (EPDP-Reclamation East), Ramasamy Chettiyar Selvavadivel (EPDP-PR), Balasingam Shantharuban (SLFP-PR), Nagarasa Srikaran (SLFP-PR), Suganthini Srikaran (TNPF-PR), Subramaniyam Subatheesh (TNA-Kantharmadam North East), Ajantha Thanbalasingam (TNPF-PR), Nagalingam Thanenthiran (TNA-Koddady Fort), Sivakanthan Thanujan (TNPF-Iyanar Kovilady), Paramalingam Tharshananth (TNA-Kantharmadam North West), Mathivathani Vivekanantharasa (TNA-Sangiliyan Thoppu), Sutharsing Vijayakanth (TULF/EPRLF-Thirunagar), Vicneswaralingam Vijayathadshani (UNF-PR) and Ratnasingam Yenan (TNPF-Eachchamoddai).
E. Arnold (TNA) and Thurairajah Eesan (TNA) were elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively when the council met for the first time in 26 March 2018.[56][57][58]
References
- Rajeswaran, S. T. B. UNDP / UN-Habitat Sponsored Sustainable Cities Programme - Urban Governance Support Project City Profile: Jaffna (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: United Nations Development Programme / United Nations Human Settlements Programme / Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply. pp. 2–4. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon (PDF). pp. 50–51.
- Pethiyagoda, A. C. B. (19 October 2014). "Train Travel to Jaffna in the mid-1950s". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "Masked gunmen kill Jaffna Mayor Shot dead outside temple". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "24 Die in Sri Lanka Clash". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, U.S.A. Reuters. 12 April 1985. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- "Jaffna police station blasted by LTTE opens at the original location after 30 years". Tamil Diplomat. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- "The Re-Construction of Jaffna Town Hall". Jaffna, Sri Lanka: Jaffna Municipal Council. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- "Chapter 1 – Historical Background Relating to Local Government in Sri Lanka". Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Local Government Reforms. 1999. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011.
- Gnanadass, Wilson (6 February 2011). "Local poll law under the microscope". The Nation. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- Suryanarayana, P. S. (6 June 1998). "Pacification efforts in peril". Frontline. 15 (12). Chennai, India. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "Jaffna Mayor Killed in Ambush at Home". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, U.S.A. 18 May 1998. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "Jaffna Mayor's killing claimed". TamilNet. 18 May 1998. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "Sri Lanka bomb kills Jaffna mayor". BBC News. London, U.K. 11 September 1998. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "Jaffna Mayor succumbs to injuries". TamilNet. 11 September 1998. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "New election system for LG bodies passed". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- "LG elections amendment draft bills passed". Ada Derana. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- "Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Act, No. 21 of 2012" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- "Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 22 of 2012" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- Gunasekara, Skandha (26 August 2017). "LG Elections (amendment) Bill passed". Ceylon Today. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
- Marasinghe, Sandasen; Mudalige, Disna (26 August 2017). "LG elections bill passed". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
- "Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 16 of 2017" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
- "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications LOCAL AUTHORITIES ELECTIONS ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 262) Order under Section 3C" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 1928/26. 21 August 2015.
- "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications LOCAL AUTHORITIES ELECTIONS ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 262) Order under Section 3D" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 2006/44. 17 February 2017.
- Sarveswaran, K. (2005). The Tamil United Liberation Front: Rise and Decline of a Moderate Ethnic Party in Sri Lanka (1976-2000). New Delhi, India: Jawaharlal Nehru University. p. 212.
- "TNA urges PM to put off NE local polls". TamilNet. 11 September 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Tight security for poll in Sri Lanka's Jaffna peninsula". BBC News. London, U.K. 29 January 1998. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- Baruha, Amit (14 June 1996). "The Army Takes Jaffna". Frontline. Chennai, India.
- "Local Elections Postponed" (PDF). Tamil Times. XV (12). Sutton, U.K. 15 December 1996. pp. 5–6. ISSN 0266-4488. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- "Local Elections in Jaffna" (PDF). Tamil Times. XVI (12). Sutton, U.K. 15 December 1997. pp. 5–6. ISSN 0266-4488. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- "Election commissioner releases results". TamilNet. 30 January 1998. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (15 February 1998). "The Jaffna Elections" (PDF). Tamil Times. XVII (2). Sutton, U.K. pp. 12–15. ISSN 0266-4488. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- "Local elections on March 1". TamilNet. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Local polls on March 1". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 2 January 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Local Govt. Ordinance amendment bill before SC". TamilNet. 12 February 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- Weerawarne, Sumadhu (11 February 2002). "Local polls on March 20, 25". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Northeast local elections postponed for Sept. 25". TamilNet. 21 March 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- Weerawarne, Sumadhu (22 March 2002). "Elections chief has authority to put off local polls". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "NE local government polls postponed". TamilNet. 17 September 2002. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Jaffna local bodies to be administered by special commissioners". TamilNet. 14 January 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Northeast elections postponed till January 24". TamilNet. 20 June 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "NorthEast local government elections postponed". TamilNet. 20 January 2004. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Nominations called for Local government elections". TamilNet. 27 January 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- Satyapalan, Franklin R. (28 January 2006). "Polls chief sets LG polls nomination dates". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Local Government polls on 30 March". TamilNet. 16 February 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Polling commences for 266 local councils in Sri Lanka". TamilNet. 30 March 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Elections to 42 local bodies in NE postponed". TamilNet. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- Satyapalan, Franklin R. (21 September 2006). "LG polls in North and East postponed again". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Local Authorities Election Results 2009 - Jaffna District Vavuniya District" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Department of Elections (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Jaffna Municipal Council - Preferences" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Department of Elections (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- "No signs of resettlement of IDPs in KKS". TamilNet. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "Remidias crosses over to UPFA". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "PART IV (B) - LOCAL GOVERNMENT Notices under the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance NOTICE UNDER SECTION 10A(1)(a) OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES ELECTIONS ORDINANCE Jaffna Municipal Council" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 1743/14. 1 February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- "Local Authorities Elections - 10.02.2018: Final Results of the Council" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Election Commission of Sri Lanka / news.lk. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- "Results Of Local Authorities Elections - 2018 (Ward by Result) - Jaffna District: Jaffna Municipal Council" (PDF) (in Tamil). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
- "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications LOCAL AUTHORITIES ELECTIONS ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 262) Notice under Section 66(2)" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 2061/42-10: 2A–3A. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- "TNA captures Jaffna Municipal Council - Arnold takes over as Mayor of Jaffna". Tamil Diplomat. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "TNA's Emmanuel Arnold elected as Jaffna Mayor". Tamil Guardian. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Eemmanuel Arnold swears in as new mayor of Jaffna". Hiru News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.