Sri Lanka: Sinhalese majority overwhelmingly endorse Rajapaksa for defeating Tamils


(By Sinnanna, 27 01 2010) - The general expectation before the election was Sri Lanka’s majority Sinhalese voters would be evenly divided in their support between two main candidates, incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his chief opponent, former army commander General Sarath Fonseka. Tamil votes would be a deciding factor (king makers) in such a situation. But contrary to those expectations, poll results clearly show that Sinhalese electorates have overwhelmingly endorsed Rajapaksa. In majority of those electorates Rajapaksa got well over 60 percent votes and Fonseka less than 40 percent.

The main opposition party UNP, without putting its own candidate, supported Sarath Fonseka. The main Sinhalese leftwing JVP and Tamil TNA backed him. Just two days before the election former President Chandrika publicly announced her support to Fonseka. But poll results clearly depict the mindset of the Sinhalese majority.

Also there are some interesting revelations.

Although it is generally considered that JVP has a strong support base in the South including Matara those areas have rejected JVP’s call to support Fonseka.

UNP dominated Colombo and Negombo has voted for Fonseka. But Ja Ela and Wattala has voted for Rajapaksa.

Chandrika’s hometown Attanagalla, rejecting her call to support to Fonseka, has overwhelmingly voted for Fonseka.

As Tamils in the North and East of the country are more concerned about the displacements and the ever present Sinhalese armed troupes, they did not show much enthusiasm in the election. Those who voted have heeded TNA’s call and overwhelmingly voted for Fonseka, except the EPDP dominated Kayts electorate.

Rajapaksa government’s Tamil ministers Devananda (North), Karuna (East) and Arumugam (Upcountry) could not get Tamil’s vote to support Rajapaksa or he do not want these king maker’s votes to win.

Victorious Rajapaksa and a Tamil amputee at a polling booth at the Manik Farm camp for the internally displaced in Vavuniya

Links to Election Results:

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3 Responses to “Sri Lanka: Sinhalese majority overwhelmingly endorse Rajapaksa for defeating Tamils”

  1. J. Malar - January 27th, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    This time Ranil can’t say that he lost election only because Tamils boycotted.

  2. S. Jothy - January 27th, 2010 at 12:59 pm

    Except Galle all the other electorates where Fonseka got a majority are in the North and East or Colombo, Negombo, Puttalam, Nuwara Eliya etc where Tamils and Muslims are living in large numbers. Sinhalese electorates 99 percent has voted for Rajapaksa.

  3. K.Bandara - January 27th, 2010 at 12:42 pm

    Hey diaspora shout shout, we will win win …

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