September 22, 2013
JAFFNA: The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) secured two -third majority in the elections to the Northern Province Council in Sri Lanka held on Saturday.
The TNA won 30 out of 38 seats (28 direct and 2 bonus seats) while ruling United People's Freedom Front (UPFA) got seven seats and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) won one seat.
September 22, 2013
JAFFNA: The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) secured two -third majority in the elections to the Northern Province Council in Sri Lanka held on Saturday.
The TNA won 30 out of 38 seats (28 direct and 2 bonus seats) while ruling United People's Freedom Front (UPFA) got seven seats and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) won one seat.
"We have got decisive victory. This proves people are definitely with us. This a clear mandate by the voters. This must be properly understood by the Sri Lankan government as well as India and other international community," TNA MP and spokesperson Suresh Premachandran told TOI.
"Though, we are under the army occupation, army worked for the ruling alliance candidates, people showed their strong support to the TNA," he added.
The TNA pulled off a surprising win in the government ally EPDP-dominated island of Kayts off the Jaffna Peninsula, beating the UPFA by 4,753 votes. The Jaffna islands are traditionally strong support bases of the government's key ally, led by Minister Douglas Devananda.
"Despite heavy army presence, blatant violations, voter intimidation and violence against our candidates, we secured a great victory. We bow to the Tamil people here," Sumanthiran, another TNA MP, said.
In Mullaitivu district, the TNA secured 27,620 votes, while the UPFA obtained 7,063 votes and the SLMC received 199 votes in the district.
While the TNA secured 14 seats in Jaffna district, it got three each in Mannar and Kilinochchi districts and four seats each in Mullaitivu and Vavunia districts in preferential votes.
The ruling UPFA has secured two seats each in Jaffna and Vavunia districts and each one in all other three districts. The SLMC won one seat in Mannar district.
Courtesy: TOI
