1998 Sri Lankan local elections

none 1998 Sri Lankan local elections Sri Lanka parliamentary no 1997 Sri Lankan local elections 1997 2002 Sri Lankan local elections 2002 233 seats across 17 local authorities 29 January 1998 18.63% Councillors Local Authorities 80px Douglas Devananda EPDP 38,726 42.28% 105 9 85px Dharmalingam Siddarthan DPLF 25,576 27.92% 62 3 Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front EPRLF Varatharajah Perumal FF0000 EPRLF 13,140 14.35% 25 0 Tamil United Liberation Front TULF M. Sivasithamparam Tamil United Liberation Front 6,361 6.94% 20 1 80px Selvam Adaikalanathan BE0028 TELO 6,874 7.50% 18 1 Local government elections were held in Sri Lanka on 29 January 1998 for 17 local authorities on the Jaffna Peninsula, in the north of the country. They were the first local elections held in the peninsula since 1983. Turnout was low due to the threats issued by the rebel Tamil Tigers. The Eelam People's Democratic Party gained control of nine local authorities, Democratic People's Liberation Front (PLOTE) three, Tamil United Liberation Front one and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization one. There was no overall control in the three remaining local authorities. Background The Sri Lankan government suspended local government in the north and east of the country in 1983 using Emergency Regulations.TNA urges PM to put off NE local polls http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=7457 11 September 2002 TamilNet 4 July 2009 In March 1994, elections were held in the east and in Vavuniya in the north. However, elections weren't held in other areas of the north, including the Jaffna peninsula, because most of these areas were at that time controlled by the rebel Tamil Tigers. In August 1995 the Sri Lankan Military launched an offensive to recapture the Jaffna Peninsula. By December 1995 the military had captured most of the Valikamam region of the peninsula, including the city of Jaffna. By 16 May 1996 the military had recaptured the entire peninsula.Amit Baruha 14 June 1996 The Army Takes Jaffna Frontline In late 1996 the government announced elections would be held for 23 local authorities in Jaffna District, Kilinochchi District, Mannar District and Vavuniya District but following opposition from Tamil political parties postponed them.15 December 1996 Local Elections Postponed Tamil Times XV 12 5–6 0266-4488 On 3 December 1997 the government announced that elections would be held for the 17 local authorities on the Jaffna Peninsula.15 December 1997 Local Elections in Jaffna Tamil Times XVI 12 5–6 0266-4488 The Tamil political parties were still opposed to holding elections as "normalcy" hadn't returned to the peninsula. The peninsula was under the firm grip of the Sri Lankan military and civil government had little, if any, role in the administration of the peninsula. The Tamil Tigers were also firmly against the elections being held. Despite these objections the elections were held on 29 January 1998. Details The Tamil Tigers ordered the electors not to participate in the elections and issued threats against election officials and potential candidates. As a result, most moderate political parties did not participate in the elections. The two main national parties, People's Alliance and United National Party, didn't contest in any of the local authorities. The Tamil United Liberation Front, the largest moderate Tamil party, only contested in two of the 17 local authorities. This allowed the elections to be dominated by government backed paramilitary groups and rebel militant groups. The Democratic People's Liberation Front (PLOTE), Eelam People's Democratic Party, Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization contested in all 17 local authorities. A breakaway faction of the EPDP contested in two local authorities as an independent group. Five of the nominations of the EPRLF and both nominations of the TULF were initially rejected due to technical errors but legal challenges overturned the rejections. Results Turnout was low (19%) due to the threats issued by the Tamil Tigers. 14% of the votes cast were also spoilt. The EPDP gained control of nine local authorities, DPLF (PLOTE) three, TULF one and TELO one. There was no overall control in the three remaining local authorities, including Jaffna Municipal Council. Overall Party Votes % Seats LA's  Eelam People's Democratic Party 38,726 42.28% 105 9   Democratic People's Liberation Front (PLOTE) 25,576 27.92% 62 3  Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front 13,140 14.35% 25 0   Tamil United Liberation Front 6,361 6.94% 20 1   Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization 6,874 7.50% 18 1  Independent (EPDP) 919 1.00% 3 0 No overall control 3Valid Votes 91,596 100.00% 233 17 Rejected Votes 14,868 Total Polled 106,464 Registered Electors 571,486 Turnout 18.63% By local authority Local Authority Type1 AdminDistrict EPDPVotes EPDPSeats DPLF(PLOTE)Votes DPLF(PLOTE)Seats EPRLFVotes EPRLFSeats TELOVotes TELOSeats TULFVotes TULFSeats Ind(EPDP)Votes Ind(EPDP)Seats TotalVotes TotalSeats Reje-ctedVotes TotalPolled Regis-teredElectors Turnout%Chavakachcheri DC JAF3,10343,46072,091374219,396152,50411,90039,87129.85%Chavakachcheri UC JAF68021,146683539902,760115273,28714,80222.21%Delft DC JAF1,484829311301001,80091251,9254,20945.74%Jaffna MC JAF2,96363,182694323,540910,6282390711,53582,66713.95%Kayts DC JAF2,7719536151057041113,826112694,09530,34013.50%Nallur DC JAF2,06479212847241714,249125544,80332,81414.64%Pachchilaippallai DC KIL37727315362211401,58493851,9697,46326.38%Point Pedro DC JAF2,208585911,459254915,07591,1776,25229,92920.89%Point Pedro UC JAF65621,3016122015712,23693742,61012,72120.52%Vadamarachchi South West DC JAF3,88892,940655401,23628,618171,86810,48645,21423.19%Valikamam East DC JAF3,97892,97552,9095752210,614211,71112,32554,38622.66%Valikamam North DC JAF1,79965282816214402,821116,108214696,57753,69712.25%Valikamam South DC JAF3,54282,65951,121249617,818169398,75741,44421.13%Valikamam South West DC JAF4,069101,2813578181526,743161,2137,95641,85619.01%Valikamam West DC JAF3,14682,3584327149416,325141,3077,63237,74620.22%Valvettithurai UC JAF2832151154073661,22492551,47911,12813.29%Velanai DC JAF1,7158255158056050822,592112842,87631,1999.22%Total38,72610525,5766213,140256,874186,36120919391,59623314,868106,464571,48618.63% 1. DC = Rural Council (Pradeshiya Sabha or Pradesha Sabhai), MC = Municipal Council, UC = Urban Council Aftermath The normal life term of Sri Lankan local government bodies is four years. The life term of the above 17 local authorities expired in February 2002 but the central government extended this by another year, as the law allows. Elections should have been held when the extension expired in February 2003 but in January 2003, following a request from the Tamil National Alliance, the central government instead dissolved the local authorities and instead put in place special commissions to administer the local areas.Jaffna local bodies to be administered by special commissioners http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=8158 14 January 2003 TamilNet 4 July 2009 The Jaffna peninsula continued to be administered by these special commissions until elections were held on 8 August 2009 for Jaffna Municipal Council. Elections for the rest of the peninsula are due to take place on 17 March 2011. References Election commissioner releases results http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=814 30 January 1998 TamilNet 4 July 2009 D.B.S. Jeyaraj 15 February 1998 The Jaffna Elections Tamil Times XVII 2 12–15 0266-4488 Category:1998 elections in Sri Lanka Local elections Category:January 1998 in Sri Lanka 1998