The UPFA victory at Uva was the largest ever scored by any political party at a provincial election in the country, where it secured 4, 18,906 votes (72.39 per cent). Twenty-five UPFA members were elected. The main opposition party, the UNP, polled 1, 29,144 votes (22.32 per cent) and secured seven seats in the Council. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) polled 14,639 votes (2.53 per cent) and the Up-Country People’s Front, 9,227 votes (1.59 per cent), getting one seat each.

The UPFA also had a major victory in the Jaffna Municipal Council, securing 10,602 votes (50.67%) and 13 of the 23 seats. The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) polled 8,008 votes (38.28%), winning 8 seats, while Independent Group 1 and the Tamil United Liberation Front got one seat each.

In polls to the Vavuniya Urban Council ITAK received 4,279 votes (34.81%), emerged the largest single party, while the Democratic Peoples Liberation Front gaining 4,136 votes (33.65%). UPFA has obtained 3.045 votes (24.77%), together gaining more than 57% of the popular vote.

In his comments of the results of the provincial and local polls President Mahinda Rajapaksa said: “In a situation where democratic expression had been denied for three decades by the forces of terror, the ability to hold elections no sooner terrorism was defeated and thus providing the opportunity for democratic expression to the people of Vavuniya and Jaffna, is also seen as a victory of our policies to stabilize democracy.

“I am especially grateful to the people of Uva who brought us the most outstanding result in the history of Provincial Council elections. Similarly, I express my gratitude to the people of Uva, Jaffna and Vavuniya for the positive and understanding response they have given to my call to stand as a nation with dignity, under a single standard,” he added.

The UPFA’s sweeping victory in the Uva Provincial Council saw it sweep to victory in the two districts of Badulla and Moneragala that comprise the province, and won clear majorities in all electorates in the province – Badulla, Passara, Uva-Paranagama, Welimada, Haputale, Viyaluva, Bandarawela, Mahiyangana and Wellawaya.