Easter attacks didn’t influence voting: Catholic MPs

17 November 2019 11:49 pm - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Easter Sunday bombs had not been a factor which had determined the results of the presidential election in predominantly Catholic areas as there may have been other issues which led the people in the areas concerned to vote as they did, Catholic politicians in the area said today.

Veteran Catholic politician, former Speaker Joseph Michael Perera told the Daily Mirror that there may have been other issues which led New Democratic Front (NDF) Candidate Sajith Premadasa to win Negombo and Wattala electorates at Saturday’s presidential election.

“We cannot say that Catholics voted the way they did, defying the propaganda carried out by the SLPP but it may be so that there may have been other issues which led to the results. I cannot pinpoint the factors now but certainly there must have been other factors,” he said.

Minister John Amaratunga also said the bomb attack had not been the issue but said the number of votes which NDF candidate received was not sufficient particularly in Wattala.

However, Member of Parliament Nimal Lanza said the result was due to the ethnic ratio in the area. “Muslims and Tamils are a majority in Negombo and Wattala and the result in two electorates was the same as the other areas where there is a Tamil and Muslim majority,” he said.

NDF Candidate Sajith Premadasa won the Negombo electorate obtaining 44,032 votes while SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa received 31,032 votes. Mr Premadasa secured the Wattala electorate with a slim majority. He obtained 48,463 votes while Mr Rajapaksa obtained 48,214 votes. (Yohan Perera)

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Comments - 8

Me Sunday, 17 November 2019 11:58 PM

Of course, it did raise nationalistic fear monger to the point that they linked to LTTE terror.

Sokrates Monday, 18 November 2019 09:18 AM

It seems that you have been brainwashed by a war criminal.

nimal aiya Monday, 18 November 2019 12:47 AM

Easter attack was the reason why GOTA won

Punchi Nilame Monday, 18 November 2019 05:39 AM

Sure buddy, you don’t have anything do with drugs in the country either right?

Alfred Collins Monday, 18 November 2019 08:52 AM

Stupid politicians as a Christian accept the overall defeat and yes we as Christians made the turn around for all the mishaps for the past almost 5 years.

Anthony Monday, 18 November 2019 08:55 AM

Easter Sunday attack is the sacrifice on behalf of the present winner's.

johah Monday, 18 November 2019 09:15 AM

Though the particular areas have voted for Sajith, Easter Attack was one of the main subjects in the minds of the people in down south where he secured less votes almost 35 to 40% even Colombo also

Arnold Monday, 18 November 2019 09:31 AM

The real reason: Catholics dont like drug peddlers.

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Easter attacks didn’t influence voting: Catholic MPs

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