Ruling NPP wins LG polls but suffers loss of mass appeal

Thursday, 8 May 2025 05:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Anura Kumara Disanayake

In a tightly contested Local Government (LG) election, ruling party National People’s Power (NPP) led by President Anura Kumara Disanayake emerged victorious, securing control in the majority of local councils countrywide.

The NPP secured 266 of the 339 local authorities, marking a significant milestone despite not clinching outright majorities in councils.

The NPP garnered around 43% of the national vote, a notable dip from its commanding 61% in the last Parliamentary elections.

Analysts opined loss of popularity in six months was due to lack of effective action on election promises and delay in making an impact on boosting investor cum business confidence to further stimulate the economy.

However, the performance remains consistent with President Disanayake’s showing in the most recent Presidential race, reinforcing the party’s sustained appeal across diverse electorates.

Voter turnaround hovered at a modest 60% in the local political landscape, which happened after seven years.

The main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), made good inroads, climbing to 21.7% of the national vote, up from 17.6% in the Parliamentary poll in November 2024. Overall, the party now leads in 13 local councils.

In a sign of revival, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) secured 9.2% of the vote and 742 seats. Although it is far from its peak, the outcome is a recovery from its dismal performances in last year’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections. However, the SLPP failed to win control of any local council.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) had a commanding run in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, winning 43 out of 58 contested councils. The party leads in 37 councils, including three municipal councils. The ITAK secured nearly 3% of the vote and 377 seats.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leads in five councils and holds 116 seats, whilst the People’s Alliance secured 300 seats countrywide.

The United National Party (UNP), once a giant, continued its decline, with just under 5% of the vote and 381 seats. It failed to take control of any council.

New political forces also made their presence felt in the local political scene. Sarvajana Balaya (SB), a recent entrant to the political landscape, secured 2.84% of the vote and earned 226 seats.

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event including Valentine ’s Day. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Flower Bouquets, Clothing, Watches, Lingerie, Gift Sets and Jewellery. Also if you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.