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Ruling party claims win in Sri Lanka
The Australian - April 10, 2010
Colombo – Sri Lanka's ruling party has claimed victory in parliamentary polls, as counting showed it far ahead of the divided opposition but short of a two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution.
Thursday's vote was marked by a record low turnout and reports of intimidation that resulted in fresh voting being ordered in two of the 22 electoral districts.
With nearly half the ballots counted yesterday, President Mahinda Rajapakse's United People's Freedom Alliance had secured 63.27 per cent of the vote, with the main opposition United National Party a distant second with 27.64 per cent.
"We have won the election," said Transport Minister and UPFA spokesman Dullas Alahaperuma, who predicted the collated results would give his party 138 to 142 seats in the 225-member parliament.
The widely expected victory for the ruling party will further strengthen Mr Rajapakse's grip on power just three months after he won a second term as President by an emphatic margin of 1.8 million votes.
Mr Rajapakse had hoped for a two-thirds majority that would allow him to amend the constitution, which limits presidents to two successive terms.
"I want a very strong parliament to develop the country," he said as he cast his ballot on Thursday in a southern constituency where his son Namal was the ruling-party candidate.
Opponents accuse him of stifling dissent, encouraging cronyism and corruption and trying to establish a family dynasty. Two of Mr Rajapakse's brothers and a son are running for parliament.
For many Sri Lankans, it was the first legislative election in which they could vote without fear of Tamil Tigers violence and suicide attacks following the defeat of the rebels by government forces last year.
But turnout was at a record low of less than 55 per cent – a figure that observers said would take the glow off the ruling party's victory.
"People have sent a message," political analyst Victor Ivan said. "They are fed up with politicians and their deception. That is why nearly half of the electorate did not bother to vote."
Human rights campaigner and political analyst Nimalka Fernando said the low turnout undermined the legitimacy of the government's victory.
"The result does not give moral authority to the government because half of the electorate did not vote," Mr Fernando said. "With the legitimacy undermined, the government will not be able to go for any sweeping reforms."
Mr Alahaperuma blamed opposition parties, saying they had failed to encourage their supporters to vote after a string of defeats, including the drubbing at the January presidential polls.
The ballot was largely peaceful, except in two districts where Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake ordered fresh polls after reports of voter intimidation.
Buses carrying ethnic Tamils displaced during the civil war were blocked from travelling to polling stations in the north, and police prevented Tamils from voting in the eastern district of Trincomalee, observers said.
"I hope the government uses the mandate of a stronger parliament to push investment-friendly reforms,' said Srimal Abeyratne, head of economics at the University of Colombo.
Sethmini Chathurika, 28, said she had voted for Mr Rajapakse's party because it had succeeded in ending the conflict with the Tamil Tigers.
"The President has plans to build the country," Ms Chathurika said. "I think he deserves a parliament to implement those plans."
Mr Rajapakse's nationalistic rhetoric appeals to his majority Sinhalese community, but has been criticised by rights groups.
His main election rival, former army chief Sarath Fonseka, who led the military campaign that defeated the Tigers, is now in custody and facing court martial.
Opposition parties lost cohesion after his arrest. General Fonseka's party had secured just 5.8 per cent of the vote yesterday. (AFP, AP)
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