2009 Sri Lankan local elections

none September 2020 2009 Sri Lankan local elections Sri Lanka parliamentary no 2008 Sri Lankan local elections 2008 2011 Sri Lankan local elections 2011 34 seats across 2 local authorities 8 August 2009 28.09% Councillors Councils 100px Mahinda Rajapaksa United People's Freedom Alliance 13,647 41.09% 15 1 100px R. Sampanthan Tamil National Alliance 12,287 36.99% 13 0 Local elections were held in Sri Lanka on 8 August 2009 for two local councils in the north of the country: Jaffna Municipal Council and Vavuniya Urban Council.Charles Haviland Post-war Sri Lanka vote date set https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8120427.stm 26 June 2009 BBC News 27 June 2009 They were the first elections held in the country since the government declared victory in the 26-year-old civil war on 18 May 2009. They were also the first local elections held in the Northern Province in more than 11 years. Both towns had been under government control for many years. The government won the Jaffna Municipal Council contest by securing 13 of the 23 seats.Government and pro-rebel party win local elections https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/08/AR2009080801518.html 8 August 2009 The Washington Post 8 August 2009June 2021 medicmedic The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) won the Vavuniya Urban Council contest by securing 5 of the 11 seats. Turnout was very low in Jaffna (22%) but it was better in Vavuniya (52%). Background On 25 May 2009 the government announced that local elections would be held in Jaffna and Vavuniya.Sri Lanka to hold local elections http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_381480.html 25 May 2009 The Straits Times 27 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090529004136/http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Asia/Story/STIStory_381480.html 29 May 2009 dead Nominations took place between 18 June 2009 and 25 June 2009. After the nominations closed the Sri Lankan Department of Election announced that the elections would take place on 8 August 2009, the same day as the Uva Provincial Council elections.Sri Lanka sets date for first post-war polls http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-40596220090625 https://web.archive.org/web/20201124074211/https://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-40596220090625 dead 24 November 2020 25 June 2009 Reuters India 27 June 2009 The TNA has said that the elections are being held too early, with so many of the electorate displaced. It expected the Jaffna elections to be violent and the results to be rigged, just like the 2008 Eastern Provincial Council elections.JMC election feared to be violence-filled - TNA http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29654 25 June 2009 TamilNet 27 June 2009Burning of newspapers doesn't augur well for free elections: TNA http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29652 25 June 2009 TamilNet 27 June 2009 The United National Party (UNP) and the People's Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) have called on the election authorities to bring in foreign election observers.UNP, PAFFREL call for foreign observers at northern polls http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53985 7 July 2009 Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka 12 July 2009 Kelum Bandara 18 August 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190818211758/http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53985 dead Violence, intimidation and other irregularities Veerasingham Anandasangaree, president of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), has accused a Tamil government minister of "terrorising the residents of Jaffna in the run-up to the Municipal Council elections".Tamil minister's thugs terrorizing Jaffna: Anandasangaree http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54439 11 July 2009 Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka 12 July 2009 Sandun A Jayasekera dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090713004403/http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54439 13 July 2009 It is believed that the minister Anandasangaree was referring to is Douglas Devananda, leader of the paramilitary Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP).Reading the Jaffna mind through election http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=55076 18 July 2009 Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka 8 August 2009 M.S.M. Ayub 30 November 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241130101413/https://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=55076 dead The UNP has accused the government of obstructing the UNP's campaign in Jaffna and Vavuniya.UNP charges govt. obstructing campaign http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54451 11 July 2009 Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka 12 July 2009 19 August 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190819165002/http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54451 dead It says the government is preventing its free movement and has complained to the Election Department. The UNP has also accused armed supporters of the EPDP of threatening its candidates.State terror in Jaffna: UNP http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54668 14 July 2009 Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka 8 August 2009 Johan Perera and Sarah Kellapatha 19 August 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190819161912/http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54668 dead It has said that the EPDP is using state resources, such as the police, in its election campaigns. In the early hours of 25 June 2009 armed men attacked newspaper delivery men and burnt thousands of copies of three Tamil language newspapers (Thinakkural, Uthayan and Valampuri) in Jaffna.Sri Lankan Government Arrests Famed Astrologer Over Predictions of President's Failure https://www.foxnews.com/story/sri-lankan-government-arrests-famed-astrologer-over-predictions-of-presidents-failure 26 June 2009 Fox News 27 June 2009RWB express concern on restoring PC http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53129 27 June 2009 Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka 27 June 2009 27 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250427093453/https://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53129 dead Wholesale attack on Jaffna newspapers http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29647 25 June 2009 TamilNet 27 June 2009 The newspapers had refused to print a statement attacking the Tamil Tigers from a shadowy group calling itself the "Tamil Front Protecting the Country". The group telephoned the Thinakkural after the attack and warned that the newspapers would continue to be confiscated and torched until the statement was published. The newspaper published the statement under duress on 26 June 2009. On 27 June 2009 the group issued further threats against the Uthayan, this time ordering all its staff to resign by 30 June 2009 or face death.Charles Haviland Death threats to Sri Lanka paper https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8128499.stm 1 July 2009 BBC News 12 July 2009'Final Warning' issued to Jaffna Tamil daily Uthayan staffers http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29671 28 June 2009 TamilNet 12 July 2009 On 4 July 2009 two men were shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in the Parathipuram area of Vavuniya. The dead men were identified as 39-year-old Nadaraja Ramesh Kantha, principal of Parathipuram Tamil Mixed School, and 31-year-old Gunarathnam Peter Ruben.Dilini Algama and Rathindra Kuruwita Two Killings in Vavuniya http://www.nation.lk/2009/07/05/news13.htm 5 July 2009 The Nation on Sunday, Sri Lanka 12 July 2009 9 July 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090709054337/http://www.nation.lk/2009/07/05/news13.htm dead School principal shot dead in Vavuniyaa http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29719 4 July 2009 TamilNet 12 July 2009 Jaffna Municipal Council February 2020 October 2019 2009 Jaffna Municipal Council election Sri Lanka parliamentary no 1998 Sri Lankan local elections 1998 2018 Sri Lankan local elections 2018 All 23 council seats of the Jaffna Municipal Council 12 seats needed for a majority 8 August 2009 22.19% File:Mahinda Rajapaksa.jpg Mahinda Rajapaksa United People's Freedom Alliance New 13 13 10,602 50.67% 100px R. Sampanthan Tamil National Alliance New 8 8 8,008 38.28% council control Subsequent council control None United People's Freedom Alliance The last election for Jaffna MC was held on 29 January 1998. The following six alliances / parties / independent groups' nominations were accepted by the Sri Lankan Department of Election:Press Room http://www.slelections.gov.lk/press2.html 25 June 2009 Department of Elections, Sri Lanka 27 June 2009 https://archive.today/20121220111611/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/press2.html 20 December 2012 deadSLMC, independent group lists rejected in Jaffna http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29651 25 June 2009 TamilNet 27 June 2009 Tamil National Alliance Tamil United Liberation Front United National Party United People's Freedom Alliance Independent Group 1 (displaced Muslims) Independent Group 2 (Abimanasingham Manickasothy) A total of 174 candidates competed for the 23 seats available on the council.News http://www.slelections.gov.lk/news.html https://web.archive.org/web/20091209225523/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/news.html dead 9 December 2009 Department of Elections, Sri Lanka 27 June 2009 The nominations of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and an independent group (Arumugam Sellathurai) were rejected by the Sri Lankan Department of Election. The SLMC appealed to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka but on 3 July the courts rejected the appeal.Court rejects SLMC Rights petition http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53804 4 July 2009 Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka 12 July 2009 S.S. Selvanayagam 19 August 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190819160442/http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53804 dead There were approximately 10,000 Muslim refugees from Jaffna living in other districts. Of these 7,104 applied to vote in the Jaffna elections.Close fight in Jaffna http://www.nation.lk/2009/07/12/news1.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20090715022206/http://www.nation.lk/2009/07/12/news1.htm dead 15 July 2009 12 July 2009 The Nation on Sunday, Sri Lanka 12 July 2009 With the elimination of the SLMC and the UNP not fielding any Muslim candidates, most of the Muslims would most likely have voted for the United People's Freedom Alliance. Extraordinarily there were no applications by Tamil refugees to vote in the Jaffna elections. There are hundreds of thousands of Tamil refugees from the Jaffna Peninsula living in other parts of the country, either in refugee camps or with relatives. Many of these are from the Jaffna municipality area. Veteran politician Veerasingham Anandasangaree is a candidate to become Mayor of Jaffna.N/local govt. polls on Aug 8 http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53010 26 June 2009 Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka 12 July 2009 Sandun A. Jayasekera and N. Parameswaran 23 April 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250423235140/https://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53010 dead Anandasangaree was a TNA Member of Parliament but left the TNA when it started taking a pro-Tamil Tiger stance. Since then he has reconstituted the TULF, a constituent party of the TNA, as a separate political party and formed alliances with government-backed anti-Tamil Tigers paramilitary groups, such as the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), in order to fight elections against the TNA. Most TULF members however remain within the TNA. Results The government (UPFA) took control of the Jaffna Municipal Council after securing 13 of the 23 seats. Alliances and parties Votes % Seats   United People's Freedom Alliance All Ceylon Muslim Congress Eelam People's Democratic Party Eelavar Democratic Front (Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students) Sri Lanka Freedom Party Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (Sri Sabaratnam Wing) 10,602 50.67% 13  Tamil National Alliance All Ceylon Tamil Congress Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (Suresh wing) Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization 8,008 38.28% 8  Independent Group 1 1,175 5.62% 1   Tamil United Liberation Front Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (Varathar wing) People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam Tamil United Liberation Front 1,007 4.81% 1   United National Party 83 0.40% 0   Independent Group 2 47 0.22% 0 Valid Votes 20,922 100.00% 23Rejected Votes 1,358 Total Polled 22,280 Registered Electors 100,417 Turnout 22.19% Source:Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Jaffna Municipal Council http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/jaffna_JAFFNA_MUNICIPAL_COUNCIL.htm Department of Elections, Sri Lanka 8 August 2009 dead https://archive.today/20120806003936/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/jaffna_JAFFNA_MUNICIPAL_COUNCIL.htm 6 August 2012 The following candidates were elected: No.Elected CandidatePartyPreferenceVotes 22 Mudiyappu Remediyas TNA 4,223 12 Thurairajah Illango alias Regan UPFA (EPDP) 3,387 1 Mohamed Sultan Moulavi Sufian Ind 1 1,779 1 Anthonypillai Mariamma TNA 1,678 20 Murugiah Komahan UPFA (EPDP) 1,573 10 Karthigesu Nadarasa Kanagaratnam TNA 1,442 3 Manuel Mangaleswaran alias Nesapriyan UPFA (EPDP) 1,394 19 Meerasahib Mohamed Rameez UPFA (ACMC) 1,338 14 Patkunam Yogeswary UPFA (EPDP) 1,250 16 Pilevian Expedith Cracian UPFA (EPDP) 1,166 17 Nadarajah Rajathevan TNA 1,118 19 Benjamin Jacob TNA 1,039 21 Mohamed Merasahib Mustafa UPFA (ACMC) 1,029 18 Manikkam Kanagaraththinam UPFA (EPDP) 1,025 3 Ariyakuddy Paramsothy TNA 1,007 26 Sutharsingh Vijiyakanth UPFA (EPDP) 989 4 Asker Roomi Badurtheen UPFA (ACMC) 979 1 Ajmaeen Asfar UPFA (ACMC) 960 27 Suvikaran Nishanthan UPFA (EPDP) 896 2 Anthonipillai Cilapotasious UPFA (EPDP) 889 21 Mariyakorattry Anton TNA 881 5 Arulappu Korneliyas TNA 826 1 Veerasingham Anandasangaree TULF 424Sources:Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Jaffna Municipal Council - Preferences http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefBadulla2009.pdf Department of Elections, Sri Lanka 19 August 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20091210031151/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefBadulla2009.pdf 10 December 2009Election Results- UVA provincial council, Jaffna Municipal Council, Vavuniya Urban Council http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=57526 10 August 2009 Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka 19 August 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090812010634/http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=57526 12 August 2009 Remdiyas gets highest number of preferential votes in JMC election http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29967 9 August 2009 TamilNet 19 August 2009 The EPDP has nominated Patkunam Yogeswary to be Mayor and Thurairajah Illango to be Deputy Mayor.Patkunam Yogeswary appointed Mayor of JMC http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29986 11 August 2009 TamilNet 19 August 2009 Vavuniya Urban Council The last election for Vavuniya UC was held on 1 March 1994. The following nine alliances / parties / independent groups' nominations were accepted by the Sri Lankan Department of Election: Democratic People's Liberation Front Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Sri Lanka Progressive Front Tamil National Alliance United National Party United People's Freedom Alliance Independent Group 1 Independent Group 2 Independent Group 3 A total of 135 candidates competed for the 11 seats available on the council. The TULF (Anandasangaree wing) filed a separate nomination but this was rejected by the Sri Lankan Department of Election. Results The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) secured 5 of the 11 seats, making it the largest group on Vavuniya Urban Council. The TNA is seeking SLMC support to form a majority administration.Vavuniya: TNA seeks SLMC support http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=57654 11 August 2009 Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka Kelum Bandara 19 August 2009 20 August 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190820030327/http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=57654 dead The TNA's victory in Vavuniya was seen as a surprise by international observers because many people had predicted the end of the TNA following the LTTE's military defeat.Vavuniya: Upset in Sri Lanka post-war polls https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8191031.stm 8 August 2009 BBC News 19 August 2009Mixed results in Sri Lanka polls http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/08/09/1245c189b94f 9 August 2009 Radio New Zealand 19 August 2009Tamil party still has strong support in elections http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/116/article_4700.asp 9 August 2009 Radio France Internationale 19 August 2009 Alliances and parties Votes % Seats  Tamil National Alliance All Ceylon Tamil Congress Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (Suresh wing) Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization 4,279 34.81% 5  Democratic People's Liberation Front Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (Varathar wing) People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam Tamil United Liberation Front 4,136 33.65% 3  United People's Freedom Alliance All Ceylon Muslim Congress Eelam People's Democratic Party Eelavar Democratic Front (Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students) Sri Lanka Freedom Party Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (Sri Sabaratnam Wing) 3,045 24.77% 2  Sri Lanka Muslim Congress 587 4.78% 1  United National Party 228 1.85% 0 Sri Lanka Progressive Front 10 0.08% 0 Independent Group 1 6 0.05% 0 Independent Group 3 1 0.01% 0 Independent Group 2 0 0.00% 0Valid Votes 12,292 100.00% 11 Rejected Votes 558 Total Polled 12,850 Registered Electors 24,626 Turnout 52.18% Source:Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Vavuniya Urban Council http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/vanni_VAVUNIYA_URBAN_COUNCIL.htm Department of Elections, Sri Lanka 8 August 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091210024859/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/vanni_VAVUNIYA_URBAN_COUNCIL.htm 10 December 2009 dead The following candidates were elected: No.Elected CandidatePartyPreferenceVotes 2 Kanthar Thamotharampillai Linganathan DPLF 2,958 14 Muttu Sivasami Muguntharathan TNA 2,551 1 Abdul Pari Muhammadu Sareep UPFA 2,270 5 Rathinasigam Sivakumar TNA 1,105 7 S. N. G. Nathan TNA 1,099 13 Sundaram Kumarasamy DPLF 962 5 Jayasekara Arachchige Dhammika Lalith Jayasekara UPFA 952 15 Sellaththurai Surenthiran TNA 858 3 Kandasamy Partheepan DPLF 834 1 Iyaththurai Kanagiah TNA 791 2 Abdul Latif Mohamed Munawfar SLMC 665Sources:Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Vavuniya Urban Council - Preferences http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefVavuniya2009.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20091210030645/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefVavuniya2009.pdf dead 10 December 2009 Department of Elections, Sri Lanka 19 August 2009 The TNA has nominated S. N. G. Nathan to be Chairman and Muttu Sivasami Muguntharathan to be Deputy Mayor.TNA nominates Chairman of Vavuniyaa UC http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29992 12 August 2009 TamilNet 19 August 2009 References Sri Lanka Local elections Sri Lanka Category:Jaffna Municipal Council 2009