16 November 2024 12:00 am Views - 35
By Yohan Perera
Whilst highlighting that attractive incentives offered by the National People’s Power (NPP) had led to the defeat of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), its General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara yesterday said electoral setbacks are a common phenomenon in Sri Lankan politics.
Mr. Madduma Bandara told Daily Mirror that attractive pledges given by the NPP such as reducing prices of essential goods and tax cuts have led the people to give a huge mandate for the NPP. “People were drawn towards the attractive pledges given by the NPP instead of us, which offered more practical promises,” he said.
“Electoral setbacks have been a common phenomenon in the history of Sri Lankan politics. Even UNP suffered a great defeat in 1970 winning only 14 seats and later won a landslide victory in 1977. Therefore, electoral setbacks are nothing new,” he said. Parties also lose their strongholds at times,” he said, referring to SJB’s significant defeat in the Colombo Central at this year’s General Election. NPP emerged victorious in Colombo Central with 39,160 votes. Both UNP and its breakaway SJB has been winning Colombo Central since 1994. The constituency was won by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga the PA candidate in the 1994 Presidential Election.
Meanwhile, Mr. Madduma Bandara said his party will have to undergo a major reorganisation process soon.