Mangala, Buddhika for Matara while Sagala left out?
April 9, 2010 08:09 am
With the final results of the 2010 general elections being announced for the Matara district, now there is speculation as to who will enter parliament from the two major parties. But the tussle is on within the United National Front for its two slots, party insiders say.
The United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) polling 213,937 votes or 65.31 per cent of the total number of votes polled has managed to obtain six of the eight seats. The United National Party (UNP) polling 91,114 or 27.81 percent has managed just two seats while the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) with 20,465 or 6.25 per cent has failed to obtain any seats.
If, on the basis of the candidate with the highest number of preference votes being sent to parliament, then one time Minister in the Chandrika Bandaranaike government, Mangala Samaraweera seems to be in the lead, with former Southern Provincial councilor and journalist Buddhika Pathirana trailing behind.
However, Sagala Ratnayake, strongly considered a favourite of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe seems to be left behind in the preference race, sources say. With the all island results being delayed after some incidents in Nawalapitiya and a re-poll in those polling divisions expected, the tussle for two UNF or UNP seats in Matara seems to be hotting up.
