Sri Lankan local government elections, 1998
Encyclopedia
Local government
elections were held in Sri Lanka
on 29 January 1998 for 17 local authorities on the Jaffna peninsula
, in the north of the country. They were the first local elections held in the peninsula since 1983. Turnout was low due to the threats issued by the rebel Tamil Tigers. The Eelam People's Democratic Party
gained control of nine local authorities, Democratic People's Liberation Front
(PLOTE
) three, Tamil United Liberation Front
one and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization
one. There was no overall control in the three remaining local authorities.
and east
of the country in 1983 using Emergency Regulations. In March 1994 elections were held in the east and in Vavuniya in the north. However, elections weren't held in other areas of the north, including the Jaffna peninsula, because most of these areas were at that time controlled by the rebel Tamil Tigers.
In August 1995 the Sri Lankan Military launched an offensive to recapture the Jaffna peninsula. By December 1995 the military had captured most of the Valikamam region of the peninsula, including the city of Jaffna
. By 16 May 1996 the military had recaptured the entire peninsula. In late 1996 the government announced elections would be held for 23 local authorities in Jaffna District
, Kilinochchi District
, Mannar District
and Vavuniya District
but following opposition from Tamil political parties postponed them. On 3 December 1997 the government announced that elections would be held for the 17 local authorities on the Jaffna peninsula. The Tamil political parties were still opposed to holding elections as "normalcy" hadn't returned to the peninsula. The peninsula was under the firm grip of the Sri Lankan military and civil government had little, if any, role in the administration of the peninsula. The Tamil Tigers were also firmly against the elections being held. Despite these objections the elections were held on 29 January 1998.
and United National Party
, didn't contest in any of the local authorities. The Tamil United Liberation Front
, the largest moderate Tamil party, only contested in two of the 17 local authorities. This allowed the elections to be dominated by government backed paramilitary groups and rebel militant groups. The Democratic People's Liberation Front
(PLOTE
), Eelam People's Democratic Party
, Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front
and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization
contested in all 17 local authorities. A breakaway faction of the EPDP contested in two local authorities as an independent group.
Five of the nominations of the EPRLF and both nominations of the TULF were initially rejected due to technical errors but legal challenges overturned the rejections.
.
1. MC = Municipal Council, RC = Rural Council (Pradeshiya Sabha), UC = Urban Council
, the central government instead dissolved the local authorities and instead put in place special commissions to administer the local areas.
The Jaffna peninsula continued to be administered by these special commissions until elections
were held on 8 August 2009 for Jaffna Municipal Council. Elections
for the rest of the peninsula are due to take place on 17 March 2011.
Local government in Sri Lanka
Local government is the third and lowest level of government in Sri Lanka - after the central government and provincial councils. The local government bodies are collectively known as local authorities. They are responsible for providing a variety of local public services including roads,...
elections were held in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
on 29 January 1998 for 17 local authorities on the Jaffna peninsula
Jaffna Peninsula
The Jaffna Peninsula is an area in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is home to the capital city of the province, Jaffna and comprises much of the former land mass of the ancient Tamil kingdoms of the Nagas and the medieval Jaffna kingdom. The peninsula is mostly surrounded by water, connected to...
, in the north of the country. They were the first local elections held in the peninsula since 1983. Turnout was low due to the threats issued by the rebel Tamil Tigers. The Eelam People's Democratic Party
Eelam People's Democratic Party
The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda.-Background:...
gained control of nine local authorities, Democratic People's Liberation Front
Democratic People's Liberation Front
Democratic People's Liberation Front , a registered political party in Sri Lanka and a front of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam . DPLF was founded in 1988. DPLF lost its parliamentary representation in the 2004 elections. 2001-2004 DPLF had one MP, elected from Vanni Electoral...
(PLOTE
People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam
The People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam is a former Tamil militant group. It is currently a pro-government paramilitary group and political party. PLOTE's political wing is known as the Democratic People's Liberation Front.-Origins:...
) three, Tamil United Liberation Front
Tamil United Liberation Front
The Tamil United Liberation Front is a political party in Sri Lanka which seeks independence for the Tamil-populated areas of Sri Lanka.-Formation:...
one and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization
Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization
The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization is an Eelam Tamil organisation campaigning for the establishment of an independent Tamil Eelam in the northeast of Sri Lanka. The TELO was originally created as a militant group, and functioned as such until 1986, when most of its membership was killed in a...
one. There was no overall control in the three remaining local authorities.
Background
The Sri Lankan government suspended local government in the northNorthern Province, Sri Lanka
The Northern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
and east
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
of the country in 1983 using Emergency Regulations. In March 1994 elections were held in the east and in Vavuniya in the north. However, elections weren't held in other areas of the north, including the Jaffna peninsula, because most of these areas were at that time controlled by the rebel Tamil Tigers.
In August 1995 the Sri Lankan Military launched an offensive to recapture the Jaffna peninsula. By December 1995 the military had captured most of the Valikamam region of the peninsula, including the city of Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
. By 16 May 1996 the military had recaptured the entire peninsula. In late 1996 the government announced elections would be held for 23 local authorities in Jaffna District
Jaffna District
Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to...
, Kilinochchi District
Kilinochchi District
Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town...
, Mannar District
Mannar District
Mannar district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka...
and Vavuniya District
Vavuniya District
Vavuniya district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Vavuniya town...
but following opposition from Tamil political parties postponed them. On 3 December 1997 the government announced that elections would be held for the 17 local authorities on the Jaffna peninsula. The Tamil political parties were still opposed to holding elections as "normalcy" hadn't returned to the peninsula. The peninsula was under the firm grip of the Sri Lankan military and civil government had little, if any, role in the administration of the peninsula. The Tamil Tigers were also firmly against the elections being held. Despite these objections the elections were held on 29 January 1998.
Details
The Tamil Tigers ordered the electors not to participate in the elections and issued threats against election officials and potential candidates. As a result most moderate political parties did not participate in the elections. The two main national parties, People's AlliancePeople's Alliance (Sri Lanka)
The People's Alliance is a front of political parties in Sri Lanka, formed in 1994.It comprises the following parties:* Sri Lanka Freedom Party* Lanka Sama Samaja Party* Communist Party of Sri Lanka* Sri Lanka Mahajana Party...
and United National Party
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
, didn't contest in any of the local authorities. The Tamil United Liberation Front
Tamil United Liberation Front
The Tamil United Liberation Front is a political party in Sri Lanka which seeks independence for the Tamil-populated areas of Sri Lanka.-Formation:...
, the largest moderate Tamil party, only contested in two of the 17 local authorities. This allowed the elections to be dominated by government backed paramilitary groups and rebel militant groups. The Democratic People's Liberation Front
Democratic People's Liberation Front
Democratic People's Liberation Front , a registered political party in Sri Lanka and a front of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam . DPLF was founded in 1988. DPLF lost its parliamentary representation in the 2004 elections. 2001-2004 DPLF had one MP, elected from Vanni Electoral...
(PLOTE
People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam
The People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam is a former Tamil militant group. It is currently a pro-government paramilitary group and political party. PLOTE's political wing is known as the Democratic People's Liberation Front.-Origins:...
), Eelam People's Democratic Party
Eelam People's Democratic Party
The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda.-Background:...
, Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front
Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front
The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front is a Sri Lankan political party and a former militant separatist group.-Militant separatists:The EPRLF was formed in 1980 by K...
and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization
Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization
The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization is an Eelam Tamil organisation campaigning for the establishment of an independent Tamil Eelam in the northeast of Sri Lanka. The TELO was originally created as a militant group, and functioned as such until 1986, when most of its membership was killed in a...
contested in all 17 local authorities. A breakaway faction of the EPDP contested in two local authorities as an independent group.
Five of the nominations of the EPRLF and both nominations of the TULF were initially rejected due to technical errors but legal challenges overturned the rejections.
Results
Turnout was low (19%) due to the threats issued by the Tamil Tigers. 14% of the votes cast were also spoilt. The EPDP gained control of nine local authorities, DPLF (PLOTE) three, TULF one and TELO one. There was no overall control in the three remaining local authorities, including Jaffna Municipal CouncilJaffna Municipal Council
Jaffna Municipal Council is the local authority for the city of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka. JMC is responsible for providing a variety of local public services including roads, sanitation, drains, housing, libraries, public parks and recreational facilities...
.
Overall
| Party | |% | |Seats | |Local Authorities |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eelam People's Democratic Party Eelam People's Democratic Party The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda.-Background:... |
38,726 | 42.28% | 105 | 9 | |
| Democratic People's Liberation Front Democratic People's Liberation Front Democratic People's Liberation Front , a registered political party in Sri Lanka and a front of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam . DPLF was founded in 1988. DPLF lost its parliamentary representation in the 2004 elections. 2001-2004 DPLF had one MP, elected from Vanni Electoral... (PLOTE People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam The People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam is a former Tamil militant group. It is currently a pro-government paramilitary group and political party. PLOTE's political wing is known as the Democratic People's Liberation Front.-Origins:... ) |
25,576 | 27.92% | 62 | 3 | |
| Tamil United Liberation Front Tamil United Liberation Front The Tamil United Liberation Front is a political party in Sri Lanka which seeks independence for the Tamil-populated areas of Sri Lanka.-Formation:... |
6,361 | 6.94% | 20 | 1 | |
| Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization is an Eelam Tamil organisation campaigning for the establishment of an independent Tamil Eelam in the northeast of Sri Lanka. The TELO was originally created as a militant group, and functioned as such until 1986, when most of its membership was killed in a... |
6,874 | 7.50% | 18 | 1 | |
| Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front is a Sri Lankan political party and a former militant separatist group.-Militant separatists:The EPRLF was formed in 1980 by K... |
13,140 | 14.35% | 25 | 0 | |
| Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... (EPDP Eelam People's Democratic Party The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda.-Background:... ) |
919 | 1.00% | 3 | 0 | |
| No overall control | 3 | ||||
| Valid Votes | 91,596 | 100.00% | 233 | 17 | |
| Rejected Votes | 14,868 | ||||
| Total Polled | 106,464 | ||||
| Registered Electors | 571,486 | ||||
| Turnout | 18.63% | ||||
By local authority
| Local Authority | |Admin District Districts of Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, districts are the second-level administrative divisions, and are included in a province. There are 25 districts organized into 9 provinces. Each district is administered under a District Secretary, who is appointed by the central government... | EPDP Eelam People's Democratic Party The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda.-Background:... Votes | EPDP Eelam People's Democratic Party The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda.-Background:... Seats | DPLF Democratic People's Liberation Front Democratic People's Liberation Front , a registered political party in Sri Lanka and a front of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam . DPLF was founded in 1988. DPLF lost its parliamentary representation in the 2004 elections. 2001-2004 DPLF had one MP, elected from Vanni Electoral... (PLOTE People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam The People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam is a former Tamil militant group. It is currently a pro-government paramilitary group and political party. PLOTE's political wing is known as the Democratic People's Liberation Front.-Origins:... ) Votes | DPLF Democratic People's Liberation Front Democratic People's Liberation Front , a registered political party in Sri Lanka and a front of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam . DPLF was founded in 1988. DPLF lost its parliamentary representation in the 2004 elections. 2001-2004 DPLF had one MP, elected from Vanni Electoral... (PLOTE People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam The People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam is a former Tamil militant group. It is currently a pro-government paramilitary group and political party. PLOTE's political wing is known as the Democratic People's Liberation Front.-Origins:... ) Seats | EPRLF Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front is a Sri Lankan political party and a former militant separatist group.-Militant separatists:The EPRLF was formed in 1980 by K... Votes | EPRLF Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front is a Sri Lankan political party and a former militant separatist group.-Militant separatists:The EPRLF was formed in 1980 by K... Seats | TELO Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization is an Eelam Tamil organisation campaigning for the establishment of an independent Tamil Eelam in the northeast of Sri Lanka. The TELO was originally created as a militant group, and functioned as such until 1986, when most of its membership was killed in a... Votes | TELO Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization is an Eelam Tamil organisation campaigning for the establishment of an independent Tamil Eelam in the northeast of Sri Lanka. The TELO was originally created as a militant group, and functioned as such until 1986, when most of its membership was killed in a... Seats | TULF Tamil United Liberation Front The Tamil United Liberation Front is a political party in Sri Lanka which seeks independence for the Tamil-populated areas of Sri Lanka.-Formation:... Votes | TULF Tamil United Liberation Front The Tamil United Liberation Front is a political party in Sri Lanka which seeks independence for the Tamil-populated areas of Sri Lanka.-Formation:... Seats | Ind Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... (EPDP Eelam People's Democratic Party The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda.-Background:... ) Votes | Ind Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... (EPDP Eelam People's Democratic Party The Eelam People's Democratic Party is a political party and a pro-government paramilitary organization in Sri Lanka. It is led by its founder Douglas Devananda.-Background:... ) Seats | |Total Seats | |Total Polled | |Turnout % |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chavakachcheri | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
3,103 | 4 | 3,460 | 7 | 2,091 | 3 | 742 | 1 | 9,396 | 15 | 2,504 | 11,900 | 39,871 | 29.85% | ||||
| Chavakachcheri | UC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
680 | 2 | 1,146 | 6 | 835 | 3 | 99 | 0 | 2,760 | 11 | 527 | 3,287 | 14,802 | 22.21% | ||||
| Delft | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
1,484 | 8 | 293 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1,800 | 9 | 125 | 1,925 | 4,209 | 45.74% | ||||
| Jaffna Jaffna Municipal Council Jaffna Municipal Council is the local authority for the city of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka. JMC is responsible for providing a variety of local public services including roads, sanitation, drains, housing, libraries, public parks and recreational facilities... |
MC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
2,963 | 6 | 3,182 | 6 | 943 | 2 | 3,540 | 9 | 10,628 | 23 | 907 | 11,535 | 82,667 | 13.95% | ||||
| Kayts | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
2,771 | 9 | 536 | 1 | 51 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 411 | 1 | 3,826 | 11 | 269 | 4,095 | 30,340 | 13.50% | ||
| Nallur | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
2,064 | 7 | 921 | 2 | 847 | 2 | 417 | 1 | 4,249 | 12 | 554 | 4,803 | 32,814 | 14.64% | ||||
| Pachchilaippallai | RC | KIL Kilinochchi District Kilinochchi district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Kilinochchi town... |
377 | 2 | 731 | 5 | 362 | 2 | 114 | 0 | 1,584 | 9 | 385 | 1,969 | 7,463 | 26.38% | ||||
| Point Pedro | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
2,208 | 5 | 859 | 1 | 1,459 | 2 | 549 | 1 | 5,075 | 9 | 1,177 | 6,252 | 29,929 | 20.89% | ||||
| Point Pedro | UC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
656 | 2 | 1,301 | 6 | 122 | 0 | 157 | 1 | 2,236 | 9 | 374 | 2,610 | 12,721 | 20.52% | ||||
| Vadamarachchi South West | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
3,888 | 9 | 2,940 | 6 | 554 | 0 | 1,236 | 2 | 8,618 | 17 | 1,868 | 10,486 | 45,214 | 23.19% | ||||
| Valikamam East | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
3,978 | 9 | 2,975 | 5 | 2,909 | 5 | 752 | 2 | 10,614 | 21 | 1,711 | 12,325 | 54,386 | 22.66% | ||||
| Valikamam North | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
1,799 | 6 | 528 | 2 | 816 | 2 | 144 | 0 | 2,821 | 11 | 6,108 | 21 | 469 | 6,577 | 53,697 | 12.25% | ||
| Valikamam South | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
3,542 | 8 | 2,659 | 5 | 1,121 | 2 | 496 | 1 | 7,818 | 16 | 939 | 8,757 | 41,444 | 21.13% | ||||
| Valikamam South West | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
4,069 | 10 | 1,281 | 3 | 578 | 1 | 815 | 2 | 6,743 | 16 | 1,213 | 7,956 | 41,856 | 19.01% | ||||
| Valikamam West | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
3,146 | 8 | 2,358 | 4 | 327 | 1 | 494 | 1 | 6,325 | 14 | 1,307 | 7,632 | 37,746 | 20.22% | ||||
| Valvettithurai | UC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
283 | 2 | 151 | 1 | 54 | 0 | 736 | 6 | 1,224 | 9 | 255 | 1,479 | 11,128 | 13.29% | ||||
| Velanai | RC | JAF Jaffna District Jaffna district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Jaffna city. Parts of the district were transferred to... |
1,715 | 8 | 255 | 1 | 58 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 508 | 2 | 2,592 | 11 | 284 | 2,876 | 31,199 | 9.22% | ||
| Total | 38,726 | 105 | 25,576 | 62 | 13,140 | 25 | 6,874 | 18 | 6,361 | 20 | 919 | 3 | 91,596 | 233 | 14,868 | 106,464 | 571,486 | 18.63% | ||
1. MC = Municipal Council, RC = Rural Council (Pradeshiya Sabha), UC = Urban Council
Aftermath
The normal life term of Sri Lankan local government bodies is four years. The life term of the above 17 local authorities expired in February 2002 but the central government extended this by another year, as the law allows. Elections should have been held when the extension expired in February 2003 but in January 2003, following a request from the Tamil National AllianceTamil National Alliance
The Tamil National Alliance is a powerful minority Sri Lankan Tamil political alliance in Sri Lanka. It was formed as an amalgamation of moderate Tamil parties as well as number of former rebel groups...
, the central government instead dissolved the local authorities and instead put in place special commissions to administer the local areas.
The Jaffna peninsula continued to be administered by these special commissions until elections
Sri Lankan local government elections, 2009
Local government elections were held in Sri Lanka on 8 August 2009 for two local councils in the north of the country: Jaffna Municipal Council and Vavuniya Urban Council. They were the first elections held in the country since the government declared victory in the 26 year old civil war on 18 May...
were held on 8 August 2009 for Jaffna Municipal Council. Elections
Sri Lankan local government elections, 2011
Local government elections were held in Sri Lanka on 17 March 2011, 23 July 2011 and 8 October 2011 to elect 4,327 members for 322 of the 335 local authorities in the country. 13.7 million Sri Lankans were eligible to vote in the election...
for the rest of the peninsula are due to take place on 17 March 2011.