Colombo, Aug 6 (UNI) Mahinda Rajapaksa's Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP), commonly known by its Sinhalese name Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is heading for a landslide victory in the 16th parliamentary elections, whose voting began early on Thursday.
The party has so far won 13 out of 16 seats, with 61.16 per cent of votes already polled in their favour.
Nearly 71 per cent of voter turnout was recorded in these elections.
SLPP's nearest rival Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has so far secured three seats.
The SLPP won all 10 electorates of Galle District by securing 430,334 votes which is a 70.54 per cent of valid votes. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) secured 115,456 votes and came in second with a 18.93 per cent. Meanwhile, the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) garnered 29,963 votes (4.91pc). The United National Party came in fourth with 18,968 votes (3.11%).
In the neighbouring Matara district, too, SLPP out shined by winning all seven electorates by securing 352,217 votes which is a 73.63 per cent of valid votes. Deniyaya, Hakmana, Akuressa, Kamburupitiya, Devinuwara, Matara and Weligama are the seven electorates. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) secured 72,811 votes and came in second with a 15.22%.
The news from Capital Colombo district is no different as SLPP is leading with 70.83 per cent of votes. The result for this district is yet to be officially declared.
The elections followed a spell of uncertainty and legal wrangling since early March, when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolved the 225-member legislature, five months ahead of schedule for an early-April poll.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday said the voter turnout of 71 per cent at the General Election, reflected the confidence that Sri Lankans have in the government’s efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I am glad to know that today’s all-island voter turnout was nearly 71%. As the first South Asian country to hold general elections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, it reflects the confidence that the people have in our efforts to control this pandemic," the president had tweeted.
UNI JAL JW2110