Sri Lankan provincial council elections, 2004

4th Sri Lankan provincial council election
Sri Lanka
24 April 2004 & 10 July 2004

380 seats across 7 provincial councils
Turnout 55.86%
  First party Second party
 
Leader Chandrika Kumaratunga Ranil Wickremasinghe
Party United People's Freedom Alliance United National Party
Popular vote 3,364,239 2,197,892
Percentage 57.68% 37.68%
Councillors 227 140
Councils 7 0

Winners of polling divisions. UPFA in blue and UNP in green.

The 2004 Sri Lankan provincial council election was held on 24 April 2004 and 10 July 2004 to elect members to seven provincial councils in Sri Lanka. No election was held in the eighth province, North Eastern, which had been governed directly by the national government since March 1990. The United People's Freedom Alliance, which was in power nationally, won all seven provinces.

Background

In an attempt to end the Sri Lankan Civil War the Indo-Lanka Accord was signed on 29 July 1987. One of the requirements of the accord was that the Sri Lankan government to devolve powers to the provinces.[1] Accordingly on 14 November 1987 the Sri Lankan Parliament passed the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka and the Provincial Councils Act No 42 of 1987.[2][3] On 3 February 1988 nine provincial councils were created by order.[4] The first elections for provincial councils took place on 28 April 1988 in North Central, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva provinces.[5] On 2 June 1988 elections were held for provincial councils for Central, Southern and Western provinces. The United National Party (UNP), which was in power nationally, won control of all seven provincial councils.

The Indo-Lanka Accord also required the merger of the Eastern and Northern provinces into one administrative unit. The accord required a referendum to be held by 31 December 1988 in the Eastern Province to decide whether the merger should be permanent. Crucially, the accord allowed the Sri Lankan president to postpone the referendum at his discretion.[1] On September 2 and 8 1988 President Jayewardene issued proclamations enabling the Eastern and Northern provinces to be one administrative unit administered by one elected council, creating the North Eastern Province.[4] Elections in the newly merged North Eastern Province were held on 19 November 1988. The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, an Indian backed paramilitary group, won control of the North Eastern provincial council.

On 1 March 1990, just as the Indian Peace Keeping Force were preparing to withdraw from Sri Lanka, Annamalai Varatharajah Perumal, Chief Minister of the North Eastern Province, moved a motion in the North Eastern Provincial Council declaraing an independent Eelam.[6] President Premadasa reacted to Permual's UDI by dissolving the provincial council and imposing direct rule on the province.

The 2nd Sri Lankan provincial council election was held in 1993 in seven provinces. The UNP retained control of six provincial councils but lost control of the largest provincial council, Western, to the opposition People's Alliance. A special election was held in Southern Province in 1994 after some UNP provincial councillors defected to the opposition. The PA won the election and took control of the Southern Provincial Council.

The 3rd Sri Lankan provincial council election was held in 1999 in seven provinces. The PA, which was now in power nationally, managed to win the majority of seats in two provinces (North Central and North Western). It was also able to form a majority administration in the other five provinces with the support of smaller parties such as the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) . The UNP regained control of the Central Provincial Council in 2002 after the CWC councillors crossed over to the opposition.[7]

Results

The United People's Freedom Alliance, the successor to the PA, won all seven provinces.

Overall

Party / Alliance Votes % Seats
United People's Freedom Alliance3,364,23957.68%227
United National Party1 22,197,89237.68%140
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress1119,7962.05%7
Up-Country People's Front52,6390.90%3
United Socialist Party21,3720.37%0
Western People's Front15,8710.27%1
Independents11,9760.21%0
Ceylon Workers' Congress210,7200.18%1
National Development Front10,4930.18%0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya6,9810.12%0
Democratic Unity Alliance6,2190.11%1
United Lalith Front3,7650.06%0
New Left Front3,5890.06%0
Liberal Party1,4500.02%0
United Sinhala Great Council1,3040.02%0
United Muslim People's Alliance1,1390.02%0
Sri Lanka Muslim Party7520.01%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front7300.01%0
People's Liberation Solidarity Front6170.01%0
Ruhuna People's Party3110.01%0
National Democratic Party2870.00%0
Sri Lanka National Front2240.00%0
Democratic United National Front2180.00%0
National People's Party1240.00%0
Valid Votes5,832,708100.00%380
Rejected Votes380,055
Total Polled6,212,763
Registered Electors11,121,889
Turnout55.86%
1. SLMC contested separately in North Central, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Western provinces, and with the UNP in Central and Uva provinces.
2. CWC contested separately in Sabaragamuwa province and with the UNP in all other provinces.

Central Province

Results of the 4th Central provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:

Party / Alliance Kandy Matale Nuwara Eliya Bonus
Seats
Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
United People's Freedom Alliance244,59554.17%1692,51056.12%689,19232.75%62426,29747.97%30
United National Party202,26444.80%1469,30942.04%4138,57250.88%8410,14546.15%26
Up-Country People's Front1,1350.69%036,93913.56%238,0744.28%2
United Socialist Party1,0880.24%01,1520.70%03,8961.43%06,1360.69%0
Independents3900.09%01200.07%02,1310.78%02,6410.30%0
National Development Front1,3600.30%03990.24%05210.19%02,2800.26%0
United Muslim People's Alliance9870.22%09870.11%0
Liberal Party8600.32%08600.10%0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya4190.09%01170.07%0760.03%06120.07%0
National Democratic Party1780.04%01090.04%02870.03%0
Ruhuna People's Party1610.04%0310.01%01920.02%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front760.02%0760.01%0
National People's Party620.04%0620.01%0
Sri Lanka Muslim Party530.03%0530.01%0
Valid Votes451,518100.00%30164,857100.00%10272,327100.00%162888,702100.00%58
Rejected Votes31,50212,46923,37567,346
Total Polled483,020177,326295,702956,048
Registered Electors880,635312,556436,2481,629,439
Turnout54.85%56.73%67.78%58.67%

North Central Province

Results of the 4th North Central provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:

Party / Alliance Anuradhapura Polonnaruwa Bonus
Seats
Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
United People's Freedom Alliance187,97763.92%1491,06762.19%62279,04463.34%22
United National Party89,16630.32%654,53437.24%4143,70032.62%10
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress14,3914.89%114,3913.27%1
United Socialist Party1,2170.41%06200.42%01,8370.42%0
National Development Front8450.29%08450.19%0
Independents2220.08%01300.09%03520.08%0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya740.03%0540.04%01280.03%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front1260.04%01260.03%0
United Sinhala Great Council730.02%0280.02%01010.02%0
Valid Votes294,091100.00%21146,433100.00%102440,524100.00%33
Rejected Votes21,6009,83131,431
Total Polled315,691156,264471,955
Registered Electors514,149254,061768,210
Turnout61.40%61.51%61.44%

North Western Province

Results of the 4th North Western provincial council election held on 24 April 2004:

Party / Alliance Kurunegala Puttalam Bonus
Seats
Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
United People's Freedom Alliance362,08459.85%20128,91657.10%92491,00059.10%31
United National Party215,90535.69%1295,86842.46%7311,77337.53%19
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress24,1734.00%224,1732.91%2
National Development Front6230.10%04500.20%01,0730.13%0
United Lalith Front8830.15%08830.11%0
New Left Front4760.08%0890.04%05650.07%0
Independents1780.03%01950.09%03730.04%0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya2950.05%0480.02%03430.04%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front1450.02%0150.01%01600.02%0
United Muslim People's Alliance1520.07%01520.02%0
Sri Lanka Muslim Party830.01%0150.01%0980.01%0
United Sinhala Great Council910.02%0910.01%0
Sri Lanka National Front430.01%0430.01%0
Ruhuna People's Party170.01%0170.00%0
Valid Votes604,979100.00%34225,765100.00%162830,744100.00%52
Rejected Votes28,0199,60037,619
Total Polled632,998235,365868,363
Registered Electors1,089,482450,0571,539,539
Turnout58.10%52.30%56.40%

Sabaragamuwa Province

Results of the 4th Sabaragamuwa provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:

Party / Alliance Kegalle Ratnapura Bonus
Seats
Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
United People's Freedom Alliance185,11258.90%11213,61961.07%152398,73160.04%28
United National Party115,55136.77%7119,68134.22%8235,23235.42%15
Ceylon Workers Congress4,2951.37%06,4251.84%110,7201.61%1
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress6,7702.15%03,7311.07%010,5011.58%0
United Socialist Party7980.25%01,2610.36%02,0590.31%0
Up-Country People's Front1,8060.52%01,8060.27%0
United Lalith Front5840.19%07070.20%01,2910.19%0
National Development Front4230.13%05120.15%09350.14%0
Western People's Front8540.24%08540.13%0
Independents3390.11%05000.14%08390.13%0
Liberal Party2620.07%02620.04%0
United Sinhala Great Council840.03%0960.03%01800.03%0
Democratic United National Front800.03%0830.02%01630.02%0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya1580.05%01580.02%0
Sri Lanka Muslim Party1330.04%01330.02%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front630.02%0520.01%01150.02%0
National People's Party620.02%0620.01%0
Ruhuna People's Party390.01%0390.01%0
Valid Votes314,296100.00%18349,784100.00%242664,080100.00%44
Rejected Votes19,77922,65242,431
Total Polled334,075372,436706,511
Registered Electors570,299647,0351,217,334
Turnout58.58%57.56%58.04%

Southern Province

Results of the 5th Southern provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:

Party / Alliance Galle Hambantota Matara Bonus
Seats
Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
United People's Freedom Alliance238,28562.50%14141,28370.12%8182,07664.30%122561,64464.86%36
United National Party139,16836.51%958,32728.95%494,44833.35%6291,94333.72%19
Independents3610.09%04090.20%04,6151.63%05,3850.62%0
United Socialist Party2,2780.60%01,0040.50%05340.19%03,8160.44%0
United Lalith Front4720.12%03480.12%08200.09%0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya4110.11%0780.04%01820.06%06710.08%0
People's Liberation Solidarity Front6170.22%06170.07%0
United Sinhala Great Council1590.04%0560.03%01720.06%03870.04%0
National Development Front2670.13%02670.03%0
Liberal Party1860.07%01860.02%0
Ruhuna People's Party940.02%0940.01%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front430.02%0430.00%0
Sri Lanka National Front290.01%0290.00%0
Valid Votes381,228100.00%23201,496100.00%12283,178100.00%182865,902100.00%55
Rejected Votes23,63313,72516,99254,350
Total Polled404,861215,221300,170920,252
Registered Electors716,609384,361551,5061,652,476
Turnout56.50%55.99%54.43%55.69%

Uva Province

Results of the 4th Uva provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:

Party / Alliance Badulla Monaragala Bonus
Seats
Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
United People's Freedom Alliance169,19755.48%1297,87866.24%72267,07558.99%21
United National Party119,17139.08%848,93033.12%4168,10137.13%12
Up-Country People's Front12,7594.18%112,7592.82%1
United Socialist Party2,3640.78%06160.42%02,9800.66%0
National Development Front5230.17%05230.12%0
Sri Lanka Muslim Party4680.15%04680.10%0
Independents2310.08%01170.08%03480.08%0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya2460.08%0650.04%03110.07%0
Democratic United National Front550.04%0550.01%0
Sri Lanka National Front390.03%0390.01%0
United Sinhala Great Council330.02%0330.01%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front200.01%0200.00%0
Valid Votes304,959100.00%21147,753100.00%112452,712100.00%34
Rejected Votes25,62810,83136,459
Total Polled330,587158,584489,171
Registered Electors511,115262,742773,857
Turnout64.68%60.36%63.21%

Western Province

Results of the 4th Western provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:

Party / Alliance Colombo Gampaha Kalutara Bonus
Seats
Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
United People's Freedom Alliance322,65349.11%21392,88161.35%24224,91457.27%122940,44855.65%59
United National Party276,75942.12%18218,90334.19%14141,33635.99%7636,99837.69%39
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress31,1844.75%216,6212.60%122,9265.84%170,7314.19%4
Western People's Front12,2191.86%12,7980.44%015,0170.89%1
Democratic Unity Alliance6,2190.95%16,2190.37%1
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya2,1940.33%02,5640.40%04,7580.28%0
National Development Front1,3370.20%02,3610.37%08720.22%04,5700.27%0
United Socialist Party2,4190.38%02,1250.54%04,5440.27%0
New Left Front3,0240.46%03,0240.18%0
Independents2510.04%01,2620.20%05250.13%02,0380.12%0
United Lalith Front7710.12%000.00%07710.05%0
United Sinhala Great Council2760.04%02360.04%05120.03%0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front1590.02%01590.01%0
Liberal Party1420.02%01420.01%0
Sri Lanka National Front1130.02%01130.01%0
Valid Votes657,000100.00%43640,346100.00%39392,698100.00%2021,690,044100.00%104
Rejected Votes45,00438,79026,625110,419
Total Polled702,004679,136419,3231,800,463
Registered Electors1,467,7511,327,145746,1383,541,034
Turnout47.83%51.17%56.20%50.85%

References

  1. 1 2 "Indo Sri Lanka Agreement, 1987". TamilNation.
  2. "Introduction". Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Government of Sri Lanka.
  3. "Amendments to the 1978 Constitution". Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Government of Sri Lanka.
  4. 1 2 "North-East merger illegal: SC". LankaNewspapers.com. 17 October 2006.
  5. "Ethnic Conflict of Sri Lanka: Time Line - From Independence to 1999". International Centre for Ethnic Studies9.
  6. Ferdinando, Shamindra (10 September 2000). "I'm no traitor, says Perumal". Sunday Island.
  7. Sri Nissanka, Jayantha (30 April 2002). "Central Provincial Council : UNF takes over". Daily News, Sri Lanka.
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