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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox election
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2009 Sri Lankan local elections
| election_name = 2009 Sri Lankan local elections
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}}
}}


'''Local elections''' were held in [[Sri Lanka]] on 8 August 2009 for two local [[Local government in Sri Lanka|councils]] in the north of the country: [[Jaffna]] Municipal Council and [[Vavuniya]] Urban Council.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|author=Charles Haviland |title=Post-war Sri Lanka vote date set |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8120427.stm |date=26 June 2009 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref> They were the first elections held in the country since the [[Politics of Sri Lanka|government]] declared victory in the 26-year-old [[Sri Lankan Civil War|civil war]] on 18 May 2009. They were also the first local elections held in the [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|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.<ref name="wp">{{cite news|title=Government and pro-rebel party win local elections |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/08/AR2009080801518.html |date=8 August 2009 |publisher=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=8 August 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> The [[Tamil National Alliance]] (TNA) won the Vavuniya Urban Council contest by securing 5 of the 11 seats.<ref name="wp"/> Turnout was very low in Jaffna (22%) but it was better in Vavuniya (52%).
'''Local elections''' were held in [[Sri Lanka]] on 8 August 2009 for two local [[Local government in Sri Lanka|councils]] in the north of the country: [[Jaffna]] Municipal Council and [[Vavuniya]] Urban Council.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|author=Charles Haviland |title=Post-war Sri Lanka vote date set |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8120427.stm |date=26 June 2009 |work=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref> They were the first elections held in the country since the [[Politics of Sri Lanka|government]] declared victory in the 26-year-old [[Sri Lankan civil war|civil war]] on 18 May 2009. They were also the first local elections held in the [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|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.<ref name="wp">{{cite news|title=Government and pro-rebel party win local elections |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/08/AR2009080801518.html |date=8 August 2009 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=8 August 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref> The [[Tamil National Alliance]] (TNA) won the Vavuniya Urban Council contest by securing 5 of the 11 seats.<ref name="wp"/> Turnout was very low in Jaffna (22%) but it was better in Vavuniya (52%).


==Background==
==Background==
On 25 May 2009 the government announced that local elections would be held in Jaffna and Vavuniya.<ref name="st">{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka to hold local elections |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_381480.html |date=25 May 2009 |publisher=[[The Straits Times]] |accessdate=27 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529004136/http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Asia/Story/STIStory_381480.html |archive-date=29 May 2009 |dead-url=yes |df=dmy-all }}</ref> 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 Province|Uva]] Provincial Council elections.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka sets date for first post-war polls |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-40596220090625 |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=[[Reuters]] India|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref>
On 25 May 2009 the government announced that local elections would be held in Jaffna and Vavuniya.<ref name="st">{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka to hold local elections |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_381480.html |date=25 May 2009 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |accessdate=27 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529004136/http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Asia/Story/STIStory_381480.html |archive-date=29 May 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 Province|Uva]] Provincial Council elections.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka sets date for first post-war polls |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-40596220090625 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124074211/https://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-40596220090625 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 November 2020 |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=[[Reuters]] India|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref>


The TNA has said that the elections are being held too early, with so many of the electorate displaced.<ref name="bbc"/> It expected the Jaffna elections to be violent and the results to be rigged, just like the [[2008 Sri Lanka Eastern Provincial Council elections|2008 Eastern Provincial Council elections]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=JMC election feared to be violence-filled - TNA |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29654 |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]]|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Burning of newspapers doesn't augur well for free elections: TNA |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29652 |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]]|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNP, PAFFREL call for foreign observers at northern polls |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53985 |date=7 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=12 July 2009 | author=Kelum Bandara}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
The TNA has said that the elections are being held too early, with so many of the electorate displaced.<ref name="bbc"/> It expected the Jaffna elections to be violent and the results to be rigged, just like the [[2008 Sri Lanka Eastern Provincial Council elections|2008 Eastern Provincial Council elections]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=JMC election feared to be violence-filled - TNA |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29654 |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]]|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Burning of newspapers doesn't augur well for free elections: TNA |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29652 |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]]|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNP, PAFFREL call for foreign observers at northern polls |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53985 |date=7 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=12 July 2009 | author=Kelum Bandara}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


==Violence, intimidation and other irregularities==
==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".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tamil minister’s thugs terrorizing Jaffna: Anandasangaree |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54439 |date=11 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka |accessdate=12 July 2009 |author=Sandun A Jayasekera |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713004403/http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54439 |archivedate=13 July 2009 }}</ref> It is believed that the minister Anandasangaree was referring to is [[Douglas Devananda]], leader of the paramilitary [[Eelam People's Democratic Party]] (EPDP).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reading the Jaffna mind through election |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=55076 |date=18 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=8 August 2009 | author=M.S.M Ayub}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
[[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".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tamil minister’s thugs terrorizing Jaffna: Anandasangaree |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54439 |date=11 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka |accessdate=12 July 2009 |author=Sandun A Jayasekera |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713004403/http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54439 |archivedate=13 July 2009 }}</ref> It is believed that the minister Anandasangaree was referring to is [[Douglas Devananda]], leader of the paramilitary [[Eelam People's Democratic Party]] (EPDP).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reading the Jaffna mind through election |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=55076 |date=18 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=8 August 2009 | author=M.S.M. Ayub}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


The UNP has accused the government of obstructing the UNP's campaign in Jaffna and Vavuniya.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNP charges govt. obstructing campaign |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54451 |date=11 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=12 July 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=State terror in Jaffna: UNP |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54668 |date=14 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka |accessdate=8 August 2009 |author=Johan Perera and Sarah Kellapatha}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> It has said that the EPDP is using state resources, such as the [[Sri Lankan Police|police]], in its election campaigns.
The UNP has accused the government of obstructing the UNP's campaign in Jaffna and Vavuniya.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNP charges govt. obstructing campaign |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54451 |date=11 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=12 July 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=State terror in Jaffna: UNP |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=54668 |date=14 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka |accessdate=8 August 2009 |author=Johan Perera and Sarah Kellapatha}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> It has said that the EPDP is using state resources, such as the [[Sri Lankan Police|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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sri Lankan Government Arrests Famed Astrologer Over Predictions of President's Failure |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529157,00.html |date=26 June 2009 |publisher=[[Fox News]]|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=RWB express concern on restoring PC |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53129 |date=27 June 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=27 June 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Wholesale attack on Jaffna newspapers|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29647 |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]]|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref name="bbc"/>
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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sri Lankan Government Arrests Famed Astrologer Over Predictions of President's Failure |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/sri-lankan-government-arrests-famed-astrologer-over-predictions-of-presidents-failure |date=26 June 2009 |publisher=[[Fox News]]|access-date=27 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=RWB express concern on restoring PC |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53129 |date=27 June 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=27 June 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Wholesale attack on Jaffna newspapers|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29647 |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]]|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref name="bbc"/>


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.<ref>{{cite news|author=Charles Haviland |title=Death threats to Sri Lanka paper |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8128499.stm |date=1 July 2009 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=‘Final Warning’ issued to Jaffna Tamil daily Uthayan staffers |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29671 |date=28 June 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]] |accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|author=Charles Haviland |title=Death threats to Sri Lanka paper |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8128499.stm |date=1 July 2009 |work=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='Final Warning' issued to Jaffna Tamil daily Uthayan staffers |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29671 |date=28 June 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]] |accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref>


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 (school)|principal]] of Parathipuram Tamil Mixed School, and 31-year-old Gunarathnam Peter Ruben.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Dilini Algama and Rathindra Kuruwita |title=Two Killings in Vavuniya |url=http://www.nation.lk/2009/07/05/news13.htm |date=5 July 2009 |publisher=The Nation on Sunday, Sri Lanka |accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=School principal shot dead in Vavuniyaa |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29719 |date=4 July 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]] |accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref>
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 (school)|principal]] of Parathipuram Tamil Mixed School, and 31-year-old Gunarathnam Peter Ruben.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Dilini Algama and Rathindra Kuruwita |title=Two Killings in Vavuniya |url=http://www.nation.lk/2009/07/05/news13.htm |date=5 July 2009 |publisher=The Nation on Sunday, Sri Lanka |accessdate=12 July 2009 |archive-date=9 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709054337/http://www.nation.lk/2009/07/05/news13.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=School principal shot dead in Vavuniyaa |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29719 |date=4 July 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]] |accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref>


==Jaffna Municipal Council==
==Jaffna Municipal Council==

{{Multiple issues|
{{update|date = February 2020}}
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=October 2019}}
}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2009 Jaffna Municipal Council election
| country = Sri Lanka
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1998 Sri Lankan local elections
| previous_year = 1998
| next_election = 2018 Sri Lankan local elections
| next_year = 2018
| seats_for_election = All 23 council seats of the Jaffna Municipal Council <br> 12 seats needed for a majority
| election_date = 8 August 2009
| turnout = 22.19%

<!-- United People's Freedom Alliance -->
| image1 = File:Mahinda Rajapaksa.jpg
| leader1 = [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]]
| party1 = United People's Freedom Alliance
| alliance1 =
| home_state1 =
| last_election1 = ''New''
| seats_before1 =
| states_carried1 =
| seats1 = 13
| seat_change1 = {{increase}}13
| popular_vote1 = 10,602
| percentage1 = 50.67%


<!-- Tamil National Alliance -->
| image2 = [[File:R. Sampanthan.jpg|100px]]
| leader2 = [[Rajavarothiam Sampanthan|R. Sampanthan]]
| party2 = Tamil National Alliance
| alliance2 =
| home_state2 =
| last_election2 = ''New''
| seats_before2 =
| states_carried2 =
| seats2 = 8
| seat_change2 = {{increase}}8
| popular_vote2 = 8,008
| percentage2 = 38.28%

| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = council control
| posttitle = Subsequent council control
| before_election =
| before_party = ''None''
| after_election =
| after_party = United People's Freedom Alliance
}}



The [[1998 Sri Lankan local government elections|last election]] for Jaffna MC was held on 29 January 1998.<ref name="st"/>
The [[1998 Sri Lankan local government elections|last election]] for Jaffna MC was held on 29 January 1998.<ref name="st"/>


The following six alliances / parties / independent groups' nominations were accepted by the Sri Lankan Department of Election:<ref name="doe1">{{Cite web |title=Press Room |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/press2.html |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=27 June 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20121220111611/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/press2.html |archive-date=20 December 2012 |dead-url=yes |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="tn1">{{Cite web|title=SLMC, independent group lists rejected in Jaffna |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29651 |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]]|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref>
The following six alliances / parties / independent groups' nominations were accepted by the Sri Lankan Department of Election:<ref name="doe1">{{Cite web |title=Press Room |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/press2.html |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=27 June 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121220111611/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/press2.html |archive-date=20 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="tn1">{{Cite web|title=SLMC, independent group lists rejected in Jaffna |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29651 |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]]|accessdate=27 June 2009}}</ref>
* [[Tamil National Alliance]]
* [[Tamil National Alliance]]
* [[Tamil United Liberation Front]]
* [[Tamil United Liberation Front]]
Line 81: Line 142:
* [[Independent (politician)|Independent Group 2]] (Abimanasingham Manickasothy)
* [[Independent (politician)|Independent Group 2]] (Abimanasingham Manickasothy)


A total of 174 [[candidates]] competed for the 23 [[Legislative seat|seats]] available on the council.<ref name="doe1"/><ref name="doe2">{{Cite web |title=News |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/news.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209225523/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/news.html |dead-url=yes |archive-date=9 December 2009 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=27 June 2009 }}</ref>
A total of 174 [[candidates]] competed for the 23 [[Legislative seat|seats]] available on the council.<ref name="doe1"/><ref name="doe2">{{Cite web |title=News |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/news.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209225523/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/news.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 December 2009 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=27 June 2009 }}</ref>


The nominations of the [[Sri Lanka Muslim Congress]] (SLMC) and an [[Independent (politician)|independent group]] (Arumugam Sellathurai) were rejected by the Sri Lankan Department of Election.<ref name="tn1"/> The SLMC appealed to the [[Supreme Court of Sri Lanka]] but on 3 July the courts rejected the appeal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Court rejects SLMC Rights petition |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53804 |date=4 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=12 July 2009 | author=S.S. Selvanayagam}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> There were approximately 10,000 Muslim refugees from Jaffna living in other districts. Of these 7,104 applied to vote in the Jaffna elections.<ref name="nation">{{Cite web|title=Close fight in Jaffna |url=http://www.nation.lk/2009/07/12/news1.htm |date=12 July 2009 |publisher=The Nation on Sunday, Sri Lanka|accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref> 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.
The nominations of the [[Sri Lanka Muslim Congress]] (SLMC) and an [[Independent (politician)|independent group]] (Arumugam Sellathurai) were rejected by the Sri Lankan Department of Election.<ref name="tn1"/> The SLMC appealed to the [[Supreme Court of Sri Lanka]] but on 3 July the courts rejected the appeal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Court rejects SLMC Rights petition |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53804 |date=4 July 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=12 July 2009 | author=S.S. Selvanayagam}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> There were approximately 10,000 Muslim refugees from Jaffna living in other districts. Of these 7,104 applied to vote in the Jaffna elections.<ref name="nation">{{Cite web |title=Close fight in Jaffna |url=http://www.nation.lk/2009/07/12/news1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715022206/http://www.nation.lk/2009/07/12/news1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2009 |date=12 July 2009 |publisher=The Nation on Sunday, Sri Lanka |accessdate=12 July 2009 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="nation"/> 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.
Extraordinarily there were no applications by Tamil refugees to vote in the Jaffna elections.<ref name="nation"/> 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.<ref name="dm1">{{Cite web|title=N/local govt. polls on Aug 8 |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53010 |date=26 June 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=12 July 2009 | author=Sandun A Jayasekera and N. Parameswaran}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> 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.
Veteran politician Veerasingham Anandasangaree is a candidate to become [[Mayor]] of Jaffna.<ref name="dm1">{{Cite web|title=N/local govt. polls on Aug 8 |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=53010 |date=26 June 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka|accessdate=12 July 2009 | author=Sandun A. Jayasekera and N. Parameswaran}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> 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===
===Results===
Line 93: Line 154:


{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:right;"
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:right;"
! valign=bottom align=left colspan=2|Alliances and parties !! valign=bottom align=center|Votes !! valign=bottom align=center|% !! valign=bottom align=center|Seats
|-
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|United People's Freedom Alliance}}"|&nbsp; || style="text-align:left;"|[[United People's Freedom Alliance]]
! align=left width="450"|Alliance / Party / Independent Group
! align=center width="60"|Votes
! align=center width="60" |%
! align=center width="40"|Seats
|-
| align=left|[[United People's Freedom Alliance]]
*[[All Ceylon Muslim Congress]]
*[[All Ceylon Muslim Congress]]
*[[Eelam People's Democratic Party]]
*[[Eelam People's Democratic Party]]
Line 105: Line 162:
*[[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]]
*[[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]]
*[[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]] ([[Sri Sabaratnam]] Wing)
*[[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]] ([[Sri Sabaratnam]] Wing)
|valign=top|10,602||valign=top|50.67%||valign=top|13
| 10,602 || 50.67% || '''13'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[Tamil National Alliance]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Tamil National Alliance}}"|&nbsp; || style="text-align:left;"|[[Tamil National Alliance]]
*[[All Ceylon Tamil Congress]]
*[[All Ceylon Tamil Congress]]
*[[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front]] (Suresh wing)
*[[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front]] (Suresh wing)
*[[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi]]
*[[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi]]
*[[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]]
*[[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]]
|valign=top|8,008||valign=top|38.28%||valign=top|8
| 8,008 || 38.28% || '''8'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[Independent (politician)|Independent Group 1]] ||valign=top|1,175||valign=top|5.62%||valign=top|1
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician}}"|&nbsp; || style="text-align:left;"|[[Independent politician|Independent Group 1]]
| 1,175 || 5.62% || '''1'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[Tamil United Liberation Front]]
| style="background-color:{{party color|Tamil United Liberation Front}}"|&nbsp; || style="text-align:left;"|[[Tamil United Liberation Front]]
*[[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front]] (Varathar wing)
*[[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front]] (Varathar wing)
*[[People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam]]
*[[People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam]]
*[[Tamil United Liberation Front]]
*[[Tamil United Liberation Front]]
|valign=top|1,007||valign=top|4.81%||valign=top|1
| 1,007 || 4.81% || '''1'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[United National Party]]||valign=top|83||valign=top|0.40%||valign=top|0
| style="background-color:{{party color|United National Party}}"|&nbsp; || style="text-align:left;"|[[United National Party]]
| 83 || 0.40% || '''0'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[Independent (politician)|Independent Group 2]] ||valign=top|47||valign=top|0.22%||valign=top|0
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent politician}}"|&nbsp; || style="text-align:left;"|[[Independent politician|Independent Group 2]]
|-
| 47|| 0.22% || '''0'''
| align=left|'''Valid Votes'''||'''20,922'''||'''100.00%'''||'''23'''
|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9; font-weight:bold"
|-
| align=left|Rejected Votes||1,358||||
| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;"|Valid Votes || 20,922 || 100.00% || 23
|-
|-
| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;"|Rejected Votes || 1,358 || colspan=2|
| align=left|Total Polled||22,280||||
|-
|-
| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;"|Total Polled || 22,280 || colspan=2|
| align=left|Registered Electors||100,417||||
|-
|-
| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;"|Registered Electors || 100,417 || colspan=2|
| align=left|Turnout (%)||22.19%||||
|-
| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;"|Turnout || 22.19% || colspan=2|
|-
|-
|align=left colspan=4|Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Jaffna Municipal Council |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/jaffna_JAFFNA_MUNICIPAL_COUNCIL.htm |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=8 August 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://archive.is/20120806003936/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/jaffna_JAFFNA_MUNICIPAL_COUNCIL.htm |archivedate=6 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|align=left colspan=5|Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Jaffna Municipal Council |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/jaffna_JAFFNA_MUNICIPAL_COUNCIL.htm |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=8 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120806003936/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/jaffna_JAFFNA_MUNICIPAL_COUNCIL.htm |archivedate=6 August 2012}}</ref>
|}
|}


Line 193: Line 253:
| 1 || [[Veerasingham Anandasangaree]] || align=center|[[Tamil United Liberation Front|TULF]] || align=right|424
| 1 || [[Veerasingham Anandasangaree]] || align=center|[[Tamil United Liberation Front|TULF]] || align=right|424
|-
|-
|align=left colspan=4|Sources:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Jaffna Municipal Council - Preferences |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefBadulla2009.pdf |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=19 August 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091210031151/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefBadulla2009.pdf |archivedate=10 December 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="dm2">{{Cite web|title=Election Results- UVA provincial council, Jaffna Municipal Council , Vavuniya Urban Council |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=57526 |date=10 August 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka |accessdate=19 August 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812010634/http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=57526 |archivedate=12 August 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Remdiyas gets highest number of preferential votes in JMC election |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29967 |date=9 August 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]] |accessdate=19 August 2009}}</ref>
|align=left colspan=4|Sources:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Jaffna Municipal Council - Preferences |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefBadulla2009.pdf |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=19 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091210031151/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefBadulla2009.pdf |archivedate=10 December 2009}}</ref><ref name="dm2">{{Cite web|title=Election Results- UVA provincial council, Jaffna Municipal Council , Vavuniya Urban Council |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=57526 |date=10 August 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka |accessdate=19 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812010634/http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=57526 |archivedate=12 August 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Remdiyas gets highest number of preferential votes in JMC election |url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29967 |date=9 August 2009 |publisher=[[TamilNet]] |accessdate=19 August 2009}}</ref>
|}
|}


Line 217: Line 277:


===Results===
===Results===
The [[Tamil National Alliance]] (TNA) secured 5 of the 11 seats, making it the largest group on Vavuniya Urban Council.<ref name="wp"/> The TNA is seeking SLMC support to form a majority administration.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vavuniya: TNA seeks SLMC support |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=57654 |date=11 August 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka |author=Kelum Bandara |accessdate=19 August 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vavuniya: Upset in Sri Lanka post-war polls |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8191031.stm |date=8 August 2009 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |accessdate=19 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mixed results in Sri Lanka polls |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/08/09/1245c189b94f |date=9 August 2009 |publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |accessdate=19 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Tamil party still has strong support in elections |url=http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/116/article_4700.asp |date=9 August 2009 |publisher=[[Radio France Internationale]] |accessdate=19 August 2009}}</ref>
The [[Tamil National Alliance]] (TNA) secured 5 of the 11 seats, making it the largest group on Vavuniya Urban Council.<ref name="wp"/> The TNA is seeking SLMC support to form a majority administration.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vavuniya: TNA seeks SLMC support |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=57654 |date=11 August 2009 |publisher=Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka |author=Kelum Bandara |accessdate=19 August 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vavuniya: Upset in Sri Lanka post-war polls |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8191031.stm |date=8 August 2009 |work=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=19 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mixed results in Sri Lanka polls |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/08/09/1245c189b94f |date=9 August 2009 |publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |accessdate=19 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Tamil party still has strong support in elections |url=http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/116/article_4700.asp |date=9 August 2009 |publisher=[[Radio France Internationale]] |accessdate=19 August 2009}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:right;"
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:right;"
! valign=bottom align=left colspan=2|Alliances and parties !! valign=bottom align=center width="60"|Votes !! valign=bottom align=center width="50"|% !! valign=bottom align=center|Seats
|-
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Tamil National Alliance}}|&nbsp; || align=left|[[Tamil National Alliance]]
! align=left width="450"|Alliance / Party / Independent Group
! align=center width="60"|Votes
! align=center width="60" |%
! align=center width="40"|Seats
|-
| align=left|[[Tamil National Alliance]]
*[[All Ceylon Tamil Congress]]
*[[All Ceylon Tamil Congress]]
*[[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front]] (Suresh wing)
*[[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front]] (Suresh wing)
*[[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi]]
*[[Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi]]
*[[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]]
*[[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]]
|valign=top|4,279||valign=top|34.81%||valign=top|5
| 4,279 || 34.81% || '''5'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[Democratic People's Liberation Front]]
| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic People's Liberation Front}}|&nbsp; || align=left|[[Democratic People's Liberation Front]]
*[[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front]] (Varathar wing)
*[[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front]] (Varathar wing)
*[[People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam]]
*[[People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam]]
*[[Tamil United Liberation Front]]
*[[Tamil United Liberation Front]]
|valign=top|4,136||valign=top|33.65%||valign=top|3
| 4,136 || 33.65% || '''3'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[United People's Freedom Alliance]]
| bgcolor={{party color|United People's Freedom Alliance}}|&nbsp; || align=left|[[United People's Freedom Alliance]]
*[[All Ceylon Muslim Congress]]
*[[All Ceylon Muslim Congress]]
*[[Eelam People's Democratic Party]]
*[[Eelam People's Democratic Party]]
Line 245: Line 301:
*[[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]]
*[[Sri Lanka Freedom Party]]
*[[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]] (Sri Sabaratnam Wing)
*[[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]] (Sri Sabaratnam Wing)
|valign=top|3,045||valign=top|24.77%||valign=top|2
| 3,045 || 24.77% || '''2'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[Sri Lanka Muslim Congress]]||valign=top|587||valign=top|4.78%||valign=top|1
| bgcolor={{party color|Sri Lanka Muslim Congress}}|&nbsp; || align=left|[[Sri Lanka Muslim Congress]]
| 587 || 4.78% || '''1'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[United National Party]]||valign=top|228||valign=top|1.85%||valign=top|0
| bgcolor={{party color|United National Party}}|&nbsp; || align=left|[[United National Party]]
| 228 || 1.85% || '''0'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[Sri Lanka Progressive Front]]||valign=top|10||valign=top|0.08%||valign=top|0
| || align=left|[[Sri Lanka Progressive Front]]
| 10 || 0.08% || '''0'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[Independent (politician)|Independent Group 1]] ||valign=top|6||valign=top|0.05%||valign=top|0
| || align=left|[[Independent (politician)|Independent Group 1]]
| 6 || 0.05% || '''0'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[Independent (politician)|Independent Group 3]] ||valign=top|1||valign=top|0.01%||valign=top|0
| || align=left|[[Independent (politician)|Independent Group 3]]
| 1 || 0.01% || '''0'''
|-
|-
| align=left|[[Independent (politician)|Independent Group 2]] ||valign=top|0||valign=top|0.00%||valign=top|0
| || align=left|[[Independent (politician)|Independent Group 2]]
| 0 || 0.00% || '''0'''
|-
|-
| align=left|'''Valid Votes'''||'''12,292'''||'''100.00%'''||'''11'''
| colspan=2 align=left|'''Valid Votes'''
| '''12,292''' || '''100.00%''' || '''11'''
|-
|-
| align=left|Rejected Votes||558||||
| colspan=2 align=left| Rejected Votes
| 558 || colspan=2|
|-
|-
| align=left|Total Polled||12,850||||
| colspan=2 align=left| Total Polled
| 12,850 || colspan=2|
|-
|-
| align=left|Registered Electors||24,626||||
| colspan=2 align=left| Registered Electors
| 24,626 || colspan=2|
|-
|-
| align=left|Turnout (%)||52.18%||||
| colspan=2 align=left| Turnout
| 52.18% || colspan=2|
|-
|-
|align=left colspan=4|Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Vavuniya Urban Council |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/vanni_VAVUNIYA_URBAN_COUNCIL.htm |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=8 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091210024859/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/vanni_VAVUNIYA_URBAN_COUNCIL.htm |archive-date=10 December 2009 |dead-url=yes |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|align=left colspan=5|Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Vavuniya Urban Council |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/vanni_VAVUNIYA_URBAN_COUNCIL.htm |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=8 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091210024859/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/localAuthorities/2009/Sub%20Pages/vanni_VAVUNIYA_URBAN_COUNCIL.htm |archive-date=10 December 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}
|}



The following candidates were elected:
The following candidates were elected:
Line 280: Line 348:
! valign=bottom align=center width="80"|Preference<br />Votes
! valign=bottom align=center width="80"|Preference<br />Votes
|-
|-
| 2 || Kanthar Thamotharampillai Linganathan || align=center|[[Democratic People's Liberation Front|DPLF]] || align=right|2,958
| 2 || [[K. T. Linganathan|Kanthar Thamotharampillai Linganathan]] || align=center|[[Democratic People's Liberation Front|DPLF]] || align=right|2,958
|-
|-
| 14 || Muttu Sivasami Muguntharathan || align=center|[[Tamil National Alliance|TNA]] || align=right|2,551
| 14 || Muttu Sivasami Muguntharathan || align=center|[[Tamil National Alliance|TNA]] || align=right|2,551
Line 302: Line 370:
| 2 || Abdul Latif Mohamed Munawfar || align=center|[[Sri Lanka Muslim Congress|SLMC]] || align=right|665
| 2 || Abdul Latif Mohamed Munawfar || align=center|[[Sri Lanka Muslim Congress|SLMC]] || align=right|665
|-
|-
|align=left colspan=4|Sources:<ref name="dm2"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Vavuniya Urban Council - Preferences |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefVavuniya2009.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091210030645/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefVavuniya2009.pdf |dead-url=yes |archive-date=10 December 2009 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=19 August 2009 }}</ref>
|align=left colspan=4|Sources:<ref name="dm2"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Vavuniya Urban Council - Preferences |url=http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefVavuniya2009.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091210030645/http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/PrefVavuniya2009.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2009 |publisher=Department of Elections, Sri Lanka |accessdate=19 August 2009 }}</ref>
|}
|}


Line 311: Line 379:


{{Sri Lankan elections}}
{{Sri Lankan elections}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2012}}


[[Category:Local elections in Sri Lanka|2009]]
[[Category:2009 elections in Asia|Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:2009 elections in Asia]]
[[Category:2009 in Sri Lanka|Local elections]]
[[Category:2009 in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:August 2009 events in Asia|Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Jaffna Municipal Council]]
[[Category:Jaffna Municipal Council]]
[[Category:August 2009 events]]
[[Category:Local elections in Sri Lanka|2009]]

Latest revision as of 20:32, 29 November 2024

2009 Sri Lankan local elections
← 2008 8 August 2009 2011 →
34 seats across 2 local authorities
Turnout28.09%
  First party Second party
 
Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa R. Sampanthan
Party UPFA TNA
Popular vote 13,647 12,287
Percentage 41.09% 36.99%
Councillors 15 13
Councils 1 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.[1] 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.[2] The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) won the Vavuniya Urban Council contest by securing 5 of the 11 seats.[2] Turnout was very low in Jaffna (22%) but it was better in Vavuniya (52%).

Background

[edit]

On 25 May 2009 the government announced that local elections would be held in Jaffna and Vavuniya.[3] 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.[4]

The TNA has said that the elections are being held too early, with so many of the electorate displaced.[1] It expected the Jaffna elections to be violent and the results to be rigged, just like the 2008 Eastern Provincial Council elections.[5][6] 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.[7]

Violence, intimidation and other irregularities

[edit]

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".[8] It is believed that the minister Anandasangaree was referring to is Douglas Devananda, leader of the paramilitary Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP).[9]

The UNP has accused the government of obstructing the UNP's campaign in Jaffna and Vavuniya.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12][13][14] 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.[1]

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.[15][16]

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.[17][18]

Jaffna Municipal Council

[edit]
2009 Jaffna Municipal Council election
← 1998 8 August 2009 2018 →
All 23 council seats of the Jaffna Municipal Council
12 seats needed for a majority
Turnout22.19%
  First party Second party
 
Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa R. Sampanthan
Party UPFA TNA
Last election New New
Seats won 13 8
Seat change Increase13 Increase8
Popular vote 10,602 8,008
Percentage 50.67% 38.28%
council control before election


None

Subsequent council control


UPFA


The last election for Jaffna MC was held on 29 January 1998.[3]

The following six alliances / parties / independent groups' nominations were accepted by the Sri Lankan Department of Election:[19][20]

A total of 174 candidates competed for the 23 seats available on the council.[19][21]

The nominations of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and an independent group (Arumugam Sellathurai) were rejected by the Sri Lankan Department of Election.[20] The SLMC appealed to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka but on 3 July the courts rejected the appeal.[22] There were approximately 10,000 Muslim refugees from Jaffna living in other districts. Of these 7,104 applied to vote in the Jaffna elections.[23] 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.[23] 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.[24] 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

[edit]

The government (UPFA) took control of the Jaffna Municipal Council after securing 13 of the 23 seats.[2]

Alliances and parties Votes % Seats
  United People's Freedom Alliance 10,602 50.67% 13
  Tamil National Alliance 8,008 38.28% 8
  Independent Group 1 1,175 5.62% 1
  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% 23
Rejected Votes 1,358
Total Polled 22,280
Registered Electors 100,417
Turnout 22.19%
Source:[25]

The following candidates were elected:

No. Elected Candidate Party Preference
Votes
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 424
Sources:[26][27][28]

The EPDP has nominated Patkunam Yogeswary to be Mayor and Thurairajah Illango to be Deputy Mayor.[29]

Vavuniya Urban Council

[edit]

The last election for Vavuniya UC was held on 1 March 1994.[3]

The following nine alliances / parties / independent groups' nominations were accepted by the Sri Lankan Department of Election:[19]

A total of 135 candidates competed for the 11 seats available on the council.[19][21]

The TULF (Anandasangaree wing) filed a separate nomination but this was rejected by the Sri Lankan Department of Election.[24]

Results

[edit]

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) secured 5 of the 11 seats, making it the largest group on Vavuniya Urban Council.[2] The TNA is seeking SLMC support to form a majority administration.[30] 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.[31][32][33]

Alliances and parties Votes % Seats
  Tamil National Alliance 4,279 34.81% 5
  Democratic People's Liberation Front 4,136 33.65% 3
  United People's Freedom Alliance 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% 0
Valid Votes 12,292 100.00% 11
Rejected Votes 558
Total Polled 12,850
Registered Electors 24,626
Turnout 52.18%
Source:[34]


The following candidates were elected:

No. Elected Candidate Party Preference
Votes
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 665
Sources:[27][35]

The TNA has nominated S. N. G. Nathan to be Chairman and Muttu Sivasami Muguntharathan to be Deputy Mayor.[36]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Charles Haviland (26 June 2009). "Post-war Sri Lanka vote date set". BBC News. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d "Government and pro-rebel party win local elections". The Washington Post. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2009.[dead link‍]
  3. ^ a b c "Sri Lanka to hold local elections". The Straits Times. 25 May 2009. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  4. ^ "Sri Lanka sets date for first post-war polls". Reuters India. 25 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  5. ^ "JMC election feared to be violence-filled - TNA". TamilNet. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  6. ^ "Burning of newspapers doesn't augur well for free elections: TNA". TamilNet. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  7. ^ Kelum Bandara (7 July 2009). "UNP, PAFFREL call for foreign observers at northern polls". Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 12 July 2009. [dead link‍]
  8. ^ Sandun A Jayasekera (11 July 2009). "Tamil minister's thugs terrorizing Jaffna: Anandasangaree". Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  9. ^ M.S.M. Ayub (18 July 2009). "Reading the Jaffna mind through election". Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 8 August 2009. [dead link‍]
  10. ^ "UNP charges govt. obstructing campaign". Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. 11 July 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2009. [dead link‍]
  11. ^ Johan Perera and Sarah Kellapatha (14 July 2009). "State terror in Jaffna: UNP". Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 8 August 2009. [dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Sri Lankan Government Arrests Famed Astrologer Over Predictions of President's Failure". Fox News. 26 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  13. ^ "RWB express concern on restoring PC". Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. 27 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009. [dead link‍]
  14. ^ "Wholesale attack on Jaffna newspapers". TamilNet. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  15. ^ Charles Haviland (1 July 2009). "Death threats to Sri Lanka paper". BBC News. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  16. ^ "'Final Warning' issued to Jaffna Tamil daily Uthayan staffers". TamilNet. 28 June 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  17. ^ Dilini Algama and Rathindra Kuruwita (5 July 2009). "Two Killings in Vavuniya". The Nation on Sunday, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  18. ^ "School principal shot dead in Vavuniyaa". TamilNet. 4 July 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  19. ^ a b c d "Press Room". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. 25 June 2009. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  20. ^ a b "SLMC, independent group lists rejected in Jaffna". TamilNet. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  21. ^ a b "News". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 9 December 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  22. ^ S.S. Selvanayagam (4 July 2009). "Court rejects SLMC Rights petition". Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 12 July 2009. [dead link‍]
  23. ^ a b "Close fight in Jaffna". The Nation on Sunday, Sri Lanka. 12 July 2009. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  24. ^ a b Sandun A. Jayasekera and N. Parameswaran (26 June 2009). "N/local govt. polls on Aug 8". Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 12 July 2009. [dead link‍]
  25. ^ "Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Jaffna Municipal Council". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  26. ^ "Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Jaffna Municipal Council - Preferences" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  27. ^ a b "Election Results- UVA provincial council, Jaffna Municipal Council , Vavuniya Urban Council". Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. 10 August 2009. Archived from the original on 12 August 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  28. ^ "Remdiyas gets highest number of preferential votes in JMC election". TamilNet. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  29. ^ "Patkunam Yogeswary appointed Mayor of JMC". TamilNet. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  30. ^ Kelum Bandara (11 August 2009). "Vavuniya: TNA seeks SLMC support". Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 19 August 2009. [dead link‍]
  31. ^ "Vavuniya: Upset in Sri Lanka post-war polls". BBC News. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  32. ^ "Mixed results in Sri Lanka polls". Radio New Zealand. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  33. ^ "Tamil party still has strong support in elections". Radio France Internationale. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  34. ^ "Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Vavuniya Urban Council". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 10 December 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  35. ^ "Local Authorities Election 2009 Final Results Vavuniya Urban Council - Preferences" (PDF). Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 December 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
  36. ^ "TNA nominates Chairman of Vavuniyaa UC". TamilNet. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
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