Narrow win for UPFA in Kolonna PS

18 March 2011 10:37 am Views - 5106

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won the Kolonna Pradeshiya Sabha with a slim one-vote majority thus making it the narrowest ever victory in Sri Lanka’s electoral history. The UPFA obtained 10,075 votes and secured six seats while the UNP which obtained 10,074 votes secured three seats.

UNP Kolonna Organizer P Abeysinghe said it was after the third count that the UPFA was declared the winner having polled 10,075 votes and secured six seats while the United National Party (UNP) with 10,074 votes secured three seats.
Mr. Abeysinghe said after the UNP emerged victorious by 50 votes on the initial count, the UPFA called for a recount and was declared the winner after the third count.

He alleged that the result was announced even before the counting was over. But Minister John Senavirathna responded by saying that the UNP agent at the counting centre should not have signed the results sheet if the counting was incomplete.

Meanwhile the UNP had informed the presiding officer that it would take up the matter in courts. At the 2006 local council elections too the UPFA emerged victorious only by a 352 vote majority. (Yohan Perera)