Upset in Sri Lanka post-war polls

08 August 2009

Initial results from the first post-war elections in northern Sri Lanka show the governing party has taken Jaffna, the region's biggest city.
But it suffered a surprise defeat in Vavuniya, the other town where polling took place, where a group supportive of the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels won.
Ballots are still being counted in the southern province of Uva.
Turnout was low. Correspondents say people felt the vote took place too early, with thousands still displaced.
The local elections came a day after the defence ministry said it had arrested the new head of the Tamil Tigers, Selvarasa Pathmanathan.
Mr Pathmanathan was detained abroad and was being questioned in Sri Lanka, it added. The rebels have confirmed his arrest.
Low turnout
According to preliminary results, President Mahinda Rajapaksa's governing United People's Freedom Alliance, won control of Jaffna city council in Saturday's election, securing 13 of the 23 seats available.

Voting passed off largely peacefully in all three areas on Saturday
The Tamil National Alliance, a fractious but broadly pro-LTTE parliamentary grouping, came second with eight seats.
Turnout was only 20%. Monitors said one problem had been that many people did not receive voting cards, for reasons that are unclear. Refugees were also required to apply to vote.
But in Vavuniya, where turnout was 52%, the UPFA was pushed into third place, winning only two seats. The TNA came first with five of the 11 seats on the council, followed by a moderate Tamil grouping.
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says the result in Vavuniya will be seen as an upset. source: bbc.com

Posted by News Point at 10:59 PM  
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