http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/10/10/pol03.asp

Civil society hails results
Chamikara Weerasinghe and Priyanka Kurugala
Prominent citizens including members of the Sangha yesterday hailed the landslide victory of the UPFA in the final phase of the Local Government elections as a clear appreciation by the people of the President’s leadership and the development programmes undertaken on behalf of the country.
The results of the local council elections reveal that the policies of the government have been endorsed by the public, Chancellor of the Sabaragamuwa University Prof Kamburugamuwe Vajira Thera said.
Due to the 30 years of war people had to face a number of difficulties. Under the intervention of the government it was possible to eradicate 30 years of terrorism. To establish a peaceful country the government has dedicated itself and the fruits of the victory can be reaped by the future generation, the Thera said.
Apart from that, the future plans of Mahinda Chinthana future vision enabled the people to understand that the country can be steered to a prosperous and peaceful future. To build this prosperous country the people have provided their strength and cooperation to the government to certify the protected future in the country, the Thera said.
To develop the country according to a systematic plan by the government the people have given their support and they have shown their appreciation to the government for the development programmes undertaken, the Thera said.
Other than that the public have shown their solidarity with the government through this election result, the Thera said. Political analyst and President’s Counsel Dr Jayatissa de Costa pointed out that this Election results clearly proves that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the most popular leader of the country and also that people accept his vision.
It goes to show that people are with the Government. Not only rural but also urban areas have also fully endorsed the development and the work done by the Government.
“It does not mean that everything is perfect but they have realized that they can live peacefully”, he said. The election was conducted in a peaceful manner except for one ugly incident between the same party members due to the unsuitable preferential voting system coupled with the PR system. This needs to be changed in to the ‘first past the post system’.
He also observed that the party leaders too should be more careful not to promote undesirable parties into responsible positions.
”The result of the third round of the Local Government Election is a clear reflection of people’s confidence in the government,” said Western Provincial Council Minister and Jathika Hela Urumaya policy maker Udaya Gammanpila.
”People have repeatedly rejected both the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the United National Party (UNP).
”Their downfall is visible everywhere including the Colombo Municipal Council,” said Gammanpila.
”In comparison to the elections held in 2006, the UNP has failed to go beyond the number of seats they have obtained,” Gammanpila said.
”On the contrary United People’s Freedom Alliance has increased their voting percentage. It has got two additional seats in the CMC. The strength of the UNP has declined at every Municipal Council,” he said.
”The voters of the Councils, which were once under the control of the UNP, such as, Kandy, and Dehiwala Mount Lavinia, have prudently decided to elect the Council that will corporate with the government,” he said.
“They will soon receive the dividends of their decision,” said Gammanpila. “The UNP created a fear psychosis in the minds of the Colombo shanty dwellers as a ploy to win the election, claiming that the government was planning to oust them from their homes.”
Gammanpila said, “this is the dirtiest trick that was played by them on the public during their course of politics, because shanties are illegal constructions, and they should anyway be removed according to the law of the country.”
”The UNP were the architects of the Urban Development Authority Act of 1978, which calls for removal of shanties,” he said.
”I will not be surprised if they canvassed for the rights of those who brew illicit liquor and run houses of ill fame at future elections looking at the way in which they stood for illegal constructions, when the government has clearly announced that they will provide proper housing units in Colombo for the shanty dwellers,” he said.
The people of the country have demonstrated and expressed their gratitude repeatedly to the government as shown by the results of this Local Council Election, All Ceylon Buddhist Congress President Jagath Sumathipala said.
Due to the present calm and peaceful situation of the country the people had the opportunity to show and cast their vote freely. After eradicating 30 years of terrorist activities now the proper time has come for the people to enjoy their freedom, he said. As a grateful Buddhist nation the people have shown their support and agreement with the government through this election, he said.