THE ruling People’s Alliance (PA) scored a victory at the local government elections in 17 southern districts, on 21 March, winning 194 of 238 local bodies, including seven of the 12 municipal councils. The PA polled 49% of the votes while the main opposition United National Party (UNP) won 41% gaining control of 43 councils.
Although making a substantial gain from 38 councils before the elections, the PA lost the prestigious Colombo Municipal Council despite the support of former UNP Mayor K Ganeshalingam. Over 18,500 candidates contested for 3,567 seats in the councils. Nearly 77% of the 9.7 million registered voters turned out to vote in an election marred by unprecedented violence and intimidation.
Opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe claims vote-rigging took place on a massive scale. Two election monitors, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) and the Movement for Free and Fair Elections (MFFE) say that in many areas voting was relatively free and fair, but concede that violence would have affected results in several local authorities.
According to the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence, over 1,800 violent incidents, including eight murders, took place in the run-up to and during elections. Police were unsuccessful in withdrawing all weapons supplied for protection and reports say politicians wielded guns on polling day to keep opponents away. PAFFREL says there was flagrant violation of election laws and the PA used state resources.
Although ministers say the victory signals people’s acceptance of the government peace proposals, there is concern in government ranks by the fall in votes for PA from a high 62% in the presidential election in November 1994. The disastrous performance of PA ally the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) in the Hill Country has unsettled the government.
But the PA draws consolation from the rejection of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) which gained only 1% of the votes. The MEP has been a prominent campaigner against the government devolution proposals. The government may proceed with caution despite a cooperation agreement in March with the UNP on the ethnic issue brokered by the British government. Observers say the government is likely to opt for a general election and postpone the referendum until November.