By Kelum Bandara  
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which bagged two slots in the Uva Provincial Council at Saturday’s polls, said the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) suffered the worst electoral setback this time though it won by a  narrow margin.

"Last time, we had only one seat. Now, we have two seats. We did not have a representation in Moneragala last time.  There is one this time"

Addressing a post-election press conference, JVP leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the UPFA, as the ruling party, declared this election as a   launching point for its political programme targeting the next Presidential election,   speculated to be announced either in January or March next year.
Mr. Dissanayake said the government went to polls in the Uva Province, as the last of a series of such Provincial Council elections, in the hope of securing the highest victory as a morale boost for its political programme for the presidential election.  

“However, the UPFA received the narrowest victory at this election. In Badulla, the opposition has outnumbered the government in the total votes polled. This is an indication of the downfall of the government. People have shown their readiness to unseat the government,” he said.  

“In total, the UPFA’s vote base has fallen from 72 per cent to 51 per cent. In Moneragala, it got 81 per cent in 2009, and the percentage dropped to 58 per cent.     This is despite the excessive abuse of State resources.  The government maximised the abuse of public servants ahead of the election.”
Commenting on his party’s performance, he said it could win two seats in the council.

“Last time, we had only one seat. Now, we have two seats. We did not have a representation in Moneragala last time.  There is one this time,” he said.
However, he admitted that the party could not win enough seats to be a decisive factor in running the council.