Votes increased by 5% - UNP

18 March 2011 11:48 am - 36 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The UNP today said that it had suffered a major setback at yesterday’s Local Government polls, but had managed to increase its votes by 5 percent compared to last year’s general election.

Addressing the media in Colombo, party’s General Secretary Tissa Attanayake recalled that the party obtained 34 percent of the votes at this election compared to 29 percent at the 2010 general election.

Mr. Attanayake said the party had lost several local bodies by slim majorities by less than 2000 votes. He said this have been achieved in a challenging situation where the ruling party was engaged in malpractices throughout the campaign. “However we will not deny the set back by taking these points as excuses, “he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Attanayake made an open invitation to other opposition parties to come together as a joint opposition whenever there is a need for such an alliance. (Yohan Perera)

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Comments - 36

Observer Friday, 18 March 2011 09:20 PM

Why not blame the system? Surprised to see no one is up to the blame game this time!! May be they are still in shock!!

anton Friday, 18 March 2011 03:48 PM

Its not logical to compare it with general elections, UNP must compare it with the previous LG polls where still MR govt. was in power. I don't have the statistics if any body there to give us a good analysis?

nimal gune Friday, 18 March 2011 03:52 PM

When you hit rock bottom there is only one way to go - UP!!! can you believe the party of leader like Gamini, Lalith, Premedasa, Ranjan boasting that they got 34% of the vote. In a matter of 16 years RW and his stooges have destroyed this great party. Its high time the UNPers sent RW home.

JUNIOR CITIZEN Friday, 18 March 2011 04:47 PM

COME COME YOU GUYS, DONT BLAME tRANIL OR SAJITH- ITS MR's POPULARITY

Somapala Friday, 18 March 2011 04:47 PM

It is the traditional hood winking slogan of UNP. This leadership should go and replaced by a more patriotic honest leadership. From the go when UNP decided to hand over a piece of Sri Lanka to the terrorists from a point of weakness, and all the slandering they did to the soldiers, one wonder how they even have held office this long. Tissa, admit you fault and let a brand new set of people take over the party who is not even distantly connected to the old guard. Then only UNP can give a reasonable fight to MR.

mottaya Friday, 18 March 2011 06:44 PM

If Sajith gets the party leadership there will be huge support from grassroot level.I five years party will bestrong to form a government.

Gambatta Friday, 18 March 2011 07:02 PM

dukata kiyana gon katha

Ruwan Ferdinandez Friday, 18 March 2011 07:04 PM

That 5% are presumably Fonseka votes.

karibuster Friday, 18 March 2011 07:15 PM

Wonder of Asia - the UNP. Hik hik hik.
(Where's that fool who goes hik, hik, hik ?)

Minister Friday, 18 March 2011 02:56 PM

Which defeat is it in number order?

Ajit Saturday, 19 March 2011 01:07 AM

You want Sajith to lead to increase. Is that so? What happened to Hambantota. Results showed less number of votres to UNP this time.

Arthapala Saturday, 19 March 2011 01:38 AM

To talk about increase in votes your logic is very silly. You have compare Apples with Apples not with Pears.

No wonder my party has gone to dogs! Those who hang on this party anymore are also Morons!

They have alienated from the general masses. Sajith is trying to talk the village lingo, thinking the villagers can be fooled. The country has spoken in unison!

At least now help the Government to develop the country, if you get involved in that task the people can be won. Those who had the Intelligence that nothing good can happen to the electorate joined the UPFA to do some good in the area. They got brains than the seniors of my former party.

Nihal Fernando Saturday, 19 March 2011 02:39 AM

you have got +50 and -50 and the end result is zero. Same as the UNP.

god Saturday, 19 March 2011 03:26 AM

hey..dont abandon me-robert o blake

Nicky Karunarathna Saturday, 19 March 2011 03:46 AM

Idiots! This is not calculus or trignometry and simple arithmatic. If UNP pundit cannot do this calculation, how can they govern country - let alone running their homes!

Common Man Saturday, 19 March 2011 05:18 AM

Does this calculation suggests they need to go throug 20 more Elections to grab power?. Good luck.

noxurs Saturday, 19 March 2011 05:53 AM

@ Ajith, I fully agree with Ajith. I personally know that people in southern rural areas just do not like Ranil and this is one of the main reason why lot of UNPers do not go for voting. Kick this Ponil out appoint anybody except that oaf Ravi K who was shouting about Alimankada and Pamankada to belittle efforts of Army led by Gen Fonseka.

Mervin Sirivardena Saturday, 19 March 2011 08:58 AM

The massage is extremely clears that not only the top official of UNP but also the low levels leaders too have been ignored by the people. Time to resolve the party and form a new one soon.

Yehiya-Doha Friday, 18 March 2011 12:42 PM

Leadership is 25%, who lost the seat more than 20% majority must change the organizer. All the losses not direct to leadership. First sajith must show the efficiency from Hambantota. Need a leader very fresh to party. This is the only solution.

I Hussein Friday, 18 March 2011 12:23 PM

Hold on mate. That 5% is a big achievement for UNP because this incease came with intimidation, threat, fear, last minute campaign, misuse state media and with other 101 things plus 50+ % absent votes.
So its an achievement for sure.

Anushka Friday, 18 March 2011 12:29 PM

Send Ranil home and the votes (especially from rural people) will increase.

Amila Friday, 18 March 2011 12:32 PM

No Way !!! amazing !!! Time to party....

TAMILAN Friday, 18 March 2011 12:33 PM

what are they talking??

its a day dreaming....

Darwin Friday, 18 March 2011 12:29 PM

Please GO!

thanakola Friday, 18 March 2011 12:30 PM

How could Sajith be a good leader when he stood aside purposely to loose this elections. That wasn't good leader quality.

Steve Friday, 18 March 2011 12:33 PM

He wants to invite others to form a joint opposition. Perhaps "JVP" who are homeless !

Man B Friday, 18 March 2011 12:43 PM

yes its a big deal, Please work with people then only UNP can get votes.

MK Friday, 18 March 2011 12:09 PM

OMG!!! FIVE PERCENT!!!! WOW!!! ISNT THIS A HUGE VICTORY FOR UNP... THEY HAVE MANAGED TO INCREASE THEIR VOTES BY 5%!!. RANIL ROCKS!!! (come on UNP, wake up from your day dream and carry forward reform)

MK Friday, 18 March 2011 12:33 PM

As long as you give excuses, nothing will happen. These things have been happening throughout all of our political history, be it SLFP, UNP, or PA. its high time our party realized the ground realities.

hrm Friday, 18 March 2011 12:44 PM

hey that's how other parties won elections under UNP govt. as well

med stud Friday, 18 March 2011 12:44 PM

get a life dude..

Darwin Friday, 18 March 2011 01:04 PM

The JVP and the DNA wanted to fight the last general elections as a joint opposition. The UNP wanted is very magical elephant symbol and ended up with a massive loss. Now they are helpless and calling for a joint opposition.

Asoka Friday, 18 March 2011 01:17 PM

Late party leaders may be crying in their graves for what Rani has done to UNP. UEFA's main strength is weakness of UNP!

Konde bendapu china Friday, 18 March 2011 01:21 PM

maybe 5% But As Long As No Compromise among Top Shots No Win near Future

rohan Friday, 18 March 2011 02:23 PM

how can anyone compare a local authorities election with the general election.it should be compared with the last local authorities election

hazi Friday, 18 March 2011 02:53 PM

yeah this is the true. most of the people dont know this.

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Votes increased by 5% - UNP

Comments - 36

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