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Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Sunday that the victory secured by his government at the provincial council elections held over the weekend was an endorsement given by the people.
In a message to mark the victory in the provincial council elections held in Uva, an area located between the South and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka, the president said the government will now be able to fast track its development projects, as a result of the victory it achieved at the polls.
The Sri Lankan government has won consecutive provincial council elections, except elections in the Tamil dominated north of the country, since defeating Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009 following 30 years of war.
The president said attempts were made to spread false allegations regarding the government during the polls but the public had rejected those allegations.
He stressed that what is important to the government, more than anything else, is what the people want. He also said no one will be allowed to go against national interests.
The ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won 19 seats in the Uva Provincial Council while the main opposition United National Party (UNP) won 13 seats.
UPFA General Secretary Susil Premjayanth said when combining the votes obtained at provincial elections held over the past couple of years, of all the alliance partners in the government, the government has enough votes to win a national election.
There has been speculation that a presidential or general election will be held next year but the opposition is of the view that the UPFA has been losing ground as opposed to gaining votes at recent elections.
