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By APD writer Easwaran
A political party led by former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa secured a moral boosting victory at a local council election held on Friday, just days before the country votes to pick a new President.
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) won the local council elections in the southern town of Elpitiya, results released late on Friday showed.
The SLPP won all the wards of the Elpitiya council in the election.
Official results showed that the SLPP obtained 23,372 votes and secured 17 seats while the ruling United National Party got 10,113 votes (7 seats), UPFA 5,273 votes (3 seats) and JVP - 2,435 votes (2 seats).
SLPP spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said that the road to the 2019 Presidential election has been launched with the public giving their verdict on the SLPP and its Presidential candidate.
He said the SLPP secured a commanding win at the Elpitiya election with 17 seats being won as opposed to a combined 12 seats by the others.
Sri Lanka is preparing to elect a new President on November 16 with current President Maithripala Sirisena not seeking a second term in office.
The battle for President is mainly between Rajapaksa’s brother, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and United National Party candidate Sajith Premadasa.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
