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1999 Sri Lankan provincial council elections

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3rd Sri Lankan provincial council election
← 1993 25 January 1999, 6 April 1999, 10 June 1999 2004 →
380 seats across 7 provincial councils
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Chandrika Kumaratunga Ranil Wickremasinghe Somawansa Amarasinghe
Party People's Alliance UNP JVP
Popular vote 3,133,658 2,761,864 417,168
Percentage 46.88% 41.31% 6.24%
Councillors 187 152 25
Councils 2 0 0

The 1999 Sri Lankan provincial council election was held on 25 January 1999, 6 April 1999 and 10 June 1999 to elect members to seven provincial councils in Sri Lanka. No election was held in the eighth province, North Eastern, which had been governed directly by the national government since March 1990. The People's Alliance, which was in power nationally, won the majority of seats in two provinces (North Central and North Western). It was also able to form a majority administration in the other five provinces with the support of smaller parties such as the Ceylon Workers' Congress.

Background

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Main article: Provinces of Sri Lanka

In an attempt to end the Sri Lankan Civil War, the Indo-Lanka Accord was signed on 29 July 1987. One of the requirements of the accord was that the Sri Lankan government to devolve powers to the provinces.[1] Accordingly, on 14 November 1987, the Sri Lankan Parliament passed the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka and the Provincial Councils Act No 42 of 1987.[2][3] On 3 February 1988, nine provincial councils were created by order.[4] The first elections for provincial councils took place on 28 April 1988 in North Central, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva provinces.[5] On 2 June 1988, elections were held for provincial councils for Central, Southern and Western provinces. The United National Party (UNP), which was in power nationally, won control of all seven provincial councils.[citation needed]

The Indo-Lanka Accord also required the merger of the Eastern and Northern provinces into one administrative unit. The accord required a referendum to be held by 31 December 1988, in the Eastern Province to decide whether the merger should be permanent. Crucially, the accord allowed the Sri Lankan president to postpone the referendum at his discretion.[1] On September 2 and 8 1988, President Jayewardene issued proclamations enabling the Eastern and Northern provinces to be one administrative unit administered by one elected council, creating the North Eastern Province.[4] Elections in the newly merged North Eastern Province were held on 19 November 1988. The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, an Indian backed paramilitary group, won control of the North Eastern provincial council.[citation needed]

On 1 March 1990, just as the Indian Peace Keeping Force were preparing to withdraw from Sri Lanka, Annamalai Varatharajah Perumal, Chief Minister of the North Eastern Province, moved a motion in the North Eastern Provincial Council declaring an independent Eelam.[6] President Premadasa reacted to Permual's UDI by dissolving the provincial council and imposing direct rule on the province.[citation needed]

The 2nd Sri Lankan provincial council election was held in 1993 in seven provinces. The UNP retained control of six provincial councils but lost control of the largest provincial council, Western, to the opposition People's Alliance. A special election was held in Southern Province in 1994 after some UNP provincial councillors defected to the opposition. The PA won the election and took control of the Southern Provincial Council.

Results

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The PA, which was now in power nationally, managed to win the majority of seats in two provinces (North Central and North Western). It was also able to form a majority administration in the other five provinces with the support of smaller parties such as the Ceylon Workers' Congress.

Overall

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Party / Alliance Votes % Seats
People's Alliance1 3,133,658 46.88% 187
United National Party 2,761,864 41.31% 152
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 417,168 6.24% 25
National Union of Workers (CWC, DWC) 145,350 2.17% 9
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna 87,165 1.30% 3
New Left Front 63,578 0.95% 1
Up-Country People's Front 25,369 0.38% 2
Independents 22,494 0.34% 0
Muslim United Liberation Front 10,051 0.15% 0
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress1 7,230 0.11% 1
Liberal Party 5,329 0.08% 0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front 2,557 0.04% 0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya 1,540 0.02% 0
People's Liberation Solidarity Front 1,216 0.02% 0
People's Freedom Front 340 0.01% 0
Valid Votes 6,684,909 100.00% 380
Rejected Votes
Total Polled
Registered Electors 9,991,293
Turnout
1. SLMC contested separately in Kalutara District, and with the PA in other districts.

Central Province

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Results of the 3rd Central provincial council election held on 6 April 1999:

Party / Alliance Kandy Matale Nuwara Eliya Bonus
Seats		 Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
People's Alliance 247,250 47.54% 95,115 51.38% 79,264 29.18% 2 421,629 43.17% 26
United National Party 232,934 44.79% 70,705 38.20% 88,020 32.41% 391,659 40.10% 23
National Union of Workers (CWC) 16,954 3.26% 9,306 5.03% 69,441 25.57% 95,701 9.80% 6
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 16,065 3.09% 1 8,010 4.33% 4,909 1.81% 28,984 2.97% 1
Up-Country People's Front 22,896 8.43% 2 22,896 2.34% 2
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna 4,433 0.85% 1,453 0.78% 811 0.30% 6,697 0.69% 0
Independents 853 0.16% 516 0.28% 2,731 1.01% 4,100 0.42% 0
New Left Front 3,541 1.30% 3,541 0.36% 0
Liberal Party 881 0.17% 881 0.09% 0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front 689 0.13% 689 0.07% 0
Valid Votes 520,059 100.00% 185,105 100.00% 271,613 100.00% 2 976,777 100.00% 58
Rejected Votes 45,000 16,257 30,853 92,110
Total Polled 565,059 201,362 302,466 1,068,887
Registered Electors 780,232 281,089 391,585 1,452,906
Turnout 72.42% 71.64% 77.24% 73.57%

North Central Province

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Results of the 3rd North Central provincial council election held on 6 April 1999:

Party / Alliance Anuradhapura Polonnaruwa Bonus
Seats		 Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
People's Alliance 156,291 54.09% 75,466 52.01% 2 231,757 53.39% 19
United National Party 111,285 38.51% 60,022 41.37% 171,307 39.46% 12
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 14,197 4.91% 8,498 5.86% 22,695 5.23% 2
New Left Front 4,259 1.47% 4,259 0.98% 0
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna 1,150 0.40% 394 0.27% 1,544 0.36% 0
Independents 861 0.30% 861 0.20% 0
Muslim United Liberation Front 798 0.28% 798 0.18% 0
Liberal Party 388 0.27% 388 0.09% 0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya 334 0.23% 334 0.08% 0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front 131 0.05% 131 0.03% 0
Valid Votes 288,972 100.00% 145,102 100.00% 2 434,074 100.00% 33
Rejected Votes 22,153 10,255 32,408
Total Polled 311,125 155,357 466,482
Registered Electors 448,098 217,318 665,416
Turnout 69.43% 71.49% 70.10%

North Western Province

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Results of the 3rd North Western provincial council election held on 25 January 1999:

Party / Alliance Kurunegala Puttalam Bonus
Seats		 Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
People's Alliance 405,431 56.16% 20 160,722 56.97% 8 2 566,153 56.39% 30
United National Party 273,892 37.94% 13 105,876 37.53% 6 379,768 37.82% 19
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 31,221 4.32% 2 10,759 3.81% 1 41,980 4.18% 3
New Left Front 9,456 1.31% 0 3,361 1.19% 0 12,817 1.28% 0
Muslim United Liberation Front 971 0.13% 0 542 0.19% 0 1,513 0.15% 0
Liberal Party 676 0.09% 0 202 0.07% 0 878 0.09% 0
Independents 309 0.04% 0 540 0.19% 0 849 0.08% 0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front 126 0.04% 0 126 0.01% 0
Valid Votes 721,956 100.00% 35 282,128 100.00% 15 2 1,004,084 100.00% 52
Rejected Votes
Total Polled
Registered Electors 960,241 398,055 1,358,296
Turnout

Sabaragamuwa Province

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Results of the 3rd Sabaragamuwa provincial council election held on 6 April 1999:

Party / Alliance Kegalle Ratnapura Bonus
Seats		 Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
People's Alliance 165,041 47.70% 191,502 47.92% 2 356,543 47.82% 22
United National Party 158,503 45.81% 175,912 44.02% 334,415 44.85% 19
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 15,537 4.49% 1 17,200 4.30% 1 32,737 4.39% 2
National Union of Workers (CWC) 4,351 1.26% 7,586 1.90% 11,937 1.60% 1
New Left Front 5,047 1.26% 5,047 0.68% 0
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna 1,552 0.45% 1,624 0.41% 3,176 0.43% 0
Liberal Party 983 0.28% 983 0.13% 0
Independents 592 0.15% 592 0.08% 0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front 194 0.05% 194 0.03% 0
Valid Votes 345,967 100.00% 399,657 100.00% 2 745,624 100.00% 44
Rejected Votes 23,749 29,362 53,111
Total Polled 369,716 429,019 798,735
Registered Electors 528,107 584,998 1,113,105
Turnout 70.01% 73.34% 71.76%

Southern Province

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Results of the 4th Southern provincial council election held on 10 June 1999:

Party / Alliance Galle Hambantota Matara Bonus
Seats		 Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
People's Alliance 214,714 46.70% 11 89,483 39.11% 6 157,762 46.36% 8 2 461,959 44.90% 27
United National Party 188,921 41.09% 9 82,786 36.19% 5 130,843 38.45% 7 402,550 39.13% 21
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 38,817 8.44% 2 47,296 20.67% 3 40,276 11.84% 2 126,389 12.28% 7
Independents 5,120 1.11% 0 2,824 1.23% 0 6,041 1.78% 0 13,985 1.36% 0
New Left Front 4,981 1.08% 0 4,869 2.13% 0 2,906 0.85% 0 12,756 1.24% 0
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna 5,496 1.20% 0 1,044 0.46% 0 1,160 0.34% 0 7,700 0.75% 0
People's Liberation Solidarity Front 444 0.10% 0 324 0.14% 0 448 0.13% 0 1,216 0.12% 0
Liberal Party 340 0.07% 0 150 0.07% 0 298 0.09% 0 788 0.08% 0
Muslim United Liberation Front 739 0.16% 0 739 0.07% 0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya 399 0.12% 0 399 0.04% 0
People's Freedom Front 197 0.04% 0 143 0.04% 0 340 0.03% 0
Valid Votes 459,769 100.00% 22 228,776 100.00% 14 340,276 100.00% 17 2 1,028,821 100.00% 55
Rejected Votes
Total Polled
Registered Electors 652,734 342,498 510,310 1,505,542

Uva Province

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Results of the 3rd Uva provincial council election held on 6 April 1999:

Party / Alliance Badulla Monaragala Bonus
Seats		 Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
People's Alliance 140,293 44.69% 66,870 45.35% 2 207,163 44.90% 17
United National Party 137,437 43.78% 65,340 44.31% 202,777 43.95% 14
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 12,106 3.86% 10,292 6.98% 22,398 4.85% 2
National Union of Workers (CWC) 19,224 6.12% 1,927 1.31% 21,151 4.58% 1
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna 1,980 0.63% 419 0.28% 2,399 0.52% 0
Up-Country People's Front 2,473 0.79% 2,473 0.54% 0
New Left Front 2,182 1.48% 2,182 0.47% 0
Independents 407 0.13% 374 0.25% 781 0.17% 0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front 50 0.03% 50 0.01% 0
Valid Votes 313,920 100.00% 147,454 100.00% 2 461,374 100.00% 34
Rejected Votes 29,396 13,976 43,372
Total Polled 343,316 161,430 504,746
Registered Electors 454,913 224,077 678,990
Turnout 75.47% 72.04% 74.34%

Western Province

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Results of the 3rd Western provincial council election held on 6 April 1999:

Party / Alliance Colombo Gampaha Kalutara Bonus
Seats		 Total
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
People's Alliance 313,576 38.98% 17 376,176 48.30% 17 198,702 44.08% 10 2 888,454 43.68% 46
United National Party 362,636 45.07% 19 317,698 40.79% 15 199,054 44.16% 10 879,388 43.23% 44
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 55,361 6.88% 3 58,277 7.48% 3 28,347 6.29% 2 141,985 6.98% 8
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna 43,008 5.35% 2 15,492 1.99% 1 7,149 1.59% 0 65,649 3.23% 3
New Left Front 9,140 1.14% 1 8,409 1.08% 0 5,427 1.20% 0 22,976 1.13% 1
National Union of Workers (DWC) 12,510 1.55% 1 4,051 0.90% 0 16,561 0.81% 1
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress 7,230 1.60% 1 7,230 0.36% 1
Muslim United Liberation Front 5,087 0.63% 0 1,347 0.17% 0 567 0.13% 0 7,001 0.34% 0
Liberal Party 1,411 0.18% 0 1,411 0.07% 0
Sri Lanka Progressive Front 495 0.06% 0 663 0.09% 0 209 0.05% 0 1,367 0.07% 0
Independents 1,326 0.16% 0 1,326 0.07% 0
Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya 807 0.10% 0 807 0.04% 0
Valid Votes 804,550 100.00% 43 778,869 100.00% 36 450,736 100.00% 23 2 2,034,155 100.00% 104
Rejected Votes 50,435 48,262 28,441 127,138
Total Polled 854,985 827,131 479,177 2,161,293
Registered Electors 1,326,487 1,213,589 676,962 3,217,038
Turnout 64.45% 68.16% 70.78% 67.18%

References

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  1. ^ a b "Indo Sri Lanka Agreement, 1987". TamilNation.
  2. ^ "Introduction". Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Government of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Amendments to the 1978 Constitution". Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Government of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 17 August 2009.
  4. ^ a b "North-East merger illegal: SC". LankaNewspapers.com. 17 October 2006.
  5. ^ "Ethnic Conflict of Sri Lanka: Time Line - From Independence to 1999". International Centre for Ethnic Studies9. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009.
  6. ^ Ferdinando, Shamindra (10 September 2000). "I'm no traitor, says Perumal". Sunday Island. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009.
Other sources
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