Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Sri Lankan ruling party celebrates poll landslide
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Sri Lankan ruling party celebrates poll landslide
AFP - 2 hours 7 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
Sri Lankan ruling party celebrates poll landslide
COLOMBO (AFP) - – Sri Lanka's ruling party on Saturday celebrated its landslide victory in the country's first peacetime parliamentary polls since crushing separatist Tamil Tiger rebels last year.
Government supporters carried national flags as they paraded through the streets and lit firecrackers, despite an official week-long ban on public celebrations.
President Mahinda Rajapakse said he saw the overwhelming majority for his United People's Freedom Alliance as a vote for his economic policies and the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels in a major military offensive last year.
"This outstanding victory is an endorsement of the 'Mahinda Chintana' (Mahinda vision)," Rajapakse said in a statement on Friday night.
"I asked you for a strong parliament that can meet any challenge," he said. "I sincerely thank you for giving me an unprecedented majority that will help make Sri Lanka an example to the rest of the world."
The UPFA secured 117 seats in the 225-member assembly with another 45 seats still to be declared. The main opposition United National Party (UNP) was reduced to 46 seats.
"This is a huge e. ndorsement of the work of the president," Rajapakse's spokesman Chandrapala Liyanage said "The party has won parliament very comfortably," Liyanage told AFP, predicting the UPFA would secure at least 24 of the undeclared seats, leaving it just nine seats short of claiming a two-thirds majority when final results are declared on April 19.
"No party has ever got this much," he said.
Rajapakse had been hoping for a two thirds majority that would allow him to alter the constitution, which currently limits presidents to two successive terms.
Police chief Mahinda Balasuriya appealed for calm and said victory celebrations should be peaceful.
Government ministers urged their supporters to observe the law. "We should not be over jubilant," Education Minister Susil Premajanatha said. "Our supporters should celebrate peacefully."
Rajapakse called the vote ahead of schedule after his January re-election, which came in the wake of his defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels in May.
The man who led the military, former army chief Sarath Fonseka contested the election from his cell at the naval headquarters in Colombo where he is detained. He won a seat representing part of Colombo, but his party did poorly, securing only five seats.
Opposition parties were largely united behind Fonseka in his campaign for the presidency in January, but lost cohesion after his arrest and went into the parliamentary election with little hope of victory.
Fonseka faces court martial proceedings for allegedly engaging in politics before retiring from the armed forces in November.
Fonseka and Rajapakse were the architects of the military campaign that defeated the Tamil Tigers at the end of a 37-year conflict that claimed up to 100,000 lives, according to UN figures.
However, the two fell out over who should take credit and Fonseka was arrested just weeks after losing the presidential vote.
The opposition UNP, which had supported Fonseka at the presidential polls, was non-committal about the latest polls outcome.
"We are not challenging the legality of those who are elected," UNP spokesman Tissa Attanayake told reporters. "But we must stress that there were serious violations in the run-up to the elections."
For many Sri Lankans, it was the first legislative poll in which they could vote without fear of Tamil Tiger violence and suicide attacks.
Analysts said the record low turnout of less than 55 percent would take the shine off the ruling party's victory.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
China posts first monthly trade deficit in 6 years AFP - 15 minutes ago
Sri Lankan leader promises peace after poll win AP - 30 minutes ago
Emboldened Thai protesters vow to raise pressure AP - 41 minutes ago
S.Korea announces cull as foot-and-mouth disease spreads AFP - 58 minutes ago
SKorea kills 6,000 more cows, pigs after outbreaks AP - 1 hour 1 minute ago
News Search
Top Stories
EU leaders back Greece, markets bet on bailout
US Supreme Court Justice Stevens retires
Supreme Court justice to retire, Obama gets new pick
UN rifts exposed after Copenhagen setback
At ISS, Discovery astronauts conclude first spacewalk
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Two-million-year-old hominid sheds light on evolution
Taiwan's male 'Susan Boyle' a web sensation
Countries list priceless relics they want returned to them
Legendary Soviet diplomat Dobrynin dead at 90
Greece sinks deeper as loan costs hit record highs
More Most Viewed »
'Rare' fossil of new dinosaur species found in US
Two-million-year-old hominid sheds light on evolution
Junkies and junk-food addicts share craving mechanism
Taiwan's male 'Susan Boyle' a web sensation
Toad is a telltale for impending quakes: scientists
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Saturday, 10 April 2010 Merkel at Afghan deaths memorial for first time
Iran displays new centrifuge for nuclear work
Nokia buys location technology firm MetaCarta
South Sudan president race has eye on independence
|
Russia eyes U.S. adoption freeze after boy returned
|
At ISS, Discovery astronauts conclude first spacewalk
More bodies pulled from Rio mudslide; 192 dead
|
Spain approves extradition of pilot to Argentina
|
Obama to Name New Supreme Court Judge as Stevens Announces Retirement
Canadian PM forces out minister, calls in police
|
US-TECH Summary
Police Passenger Arrested For Drinking And Riding
Nokia buys location technology firm MetaCarta
Research: Exercise By ICU Patients Cuts Hospital Stay
SEC Proposes New Rules To Protect Investors In Asset-Backed Securities
U.S. Justice Stevens to resign
A Year After Switching Parties, Specter Trails Conservative Rival In Poll
Tribe denounces U.S. plan to seize or kill cleric
|
Old Law Calls For California To Cure Gays
US loses first Osprey in Afghanistan, 4 dead
Obama sees Karzai as 'critical partner'
Mom Has Sixth Grade Son Arrested For Giving Away Her Jewelry
Russia stands to reap benefits of Kyrgyz unrest
Bond Insurer Ambac Financial Swings To Q4 Profit
Families Of Murdered Officers Sue County, Suspects Family
Thai protesters storm into TV compound
Celebrities, New Yorkers Rock Zac Posen For Target Collection Early
More than 200,000 flee Pakistan tribal regions
Thongchai withdraws from Masters with elbow injury
Kyrgyz victims mourned, US base fate on hold
Nokia buys location technology firm MetaCarta
|
100 peaks in Indian Kashmir opened to foreigners
Apple unveils iAd platform; iPad sales look strong
|
Teen suicide puts spotlight on high-tech bullying
|
Facebook joins drive to get UK voters to polls
|
Apple's iPad takes video gaming seriously
|
Yahoo technology chief to step down
|
Mexico may cut millions of cellphones to fight crime
|
3D TV to face global test in soccer World Cup
|
Wi-Lan sues Apple, HP, others on Bluetooth patent
|
India's Reliance buys 1.7 bln dlr stake in US gasfield
US-China held constructive yuan talks: report
China auto sales hit record high in March
China passenger car sales up 63 pct in Mar.
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"The Addams Family" musical disappoints on Broadway
Ethical fashion hits big time with German takeover
Saving the soul of Russia's exiled Lipovans
Recession-proof television at MIPTV
Russian rap song slams officials for Moscow metro blasts
Spas and volcano tourism: the scenic route to Iceland recovery
Rufus Wainwright's tales of women and death
Blur to release first new single for seven years
Canoes to relive Pacific migration voyages
Charlie Sheen says if TV show ends, so be it
|
The Addams Family musical disappoints on Broadway
|
Twilight actress Greene mixing in some Butter
|
South Sudan president race has eye on independence
Defiant Iran unveils faster enrichment centrifuge
Thai troops repel red shirts at Bangkok base
|
US-TECH Summary
European Roma summit ends with timid commitments
Iran says its nuclear drive is "irreversible"
Kyrgyzstan buries its dead, U.S. halts troop flights
|
Polish president's plane crashes in Russia: official
|
Teen suicide puts spotlight on high-tech bullying
Netanyahu ducks U.S. nuclear summit
News
Drug gang hangs two from bridge near Mexico City
|
US-TECH Summary
New Tiger Woods Nike Ad Called "Creepy," "Disturbing"
Rihanna Spends Fourth Week At #1 On Billboard Hot 100 With "Rude Boy"
Four missing US miners found dead
"Dynasty" Actor Christopher Cazenove Dies At 64
EU leaders back Greece, markets bet on bailout
Documents: Bullied teen sought help from school
US Supreme Court Justice Stevens retires
Fort Hood suspect to be isolated in Texas jail
Supreme Court justice to retire, Obama gets new pick
Cuba leaders 'do not want' normal ties with US: Clinton
UN rifts exposed after Copenhagen setback
Russia eyes U.S. adoption freeze after boy sent back
One more body recovered at flooded China mine
Emboldened Thai protesters vow to raise pressure
Australian freeze on asylum seekers may face challenge
Sri Lankan leader promises peace after poll win
Philippine diaspora begins voting for next president
Sri Lankan ruling party celebrates poll landslide
Tribe denounces U.S. plan to seize or kill cleric
Thai PM under pressure to end turmoil
Liberal U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stevens to resign
Thai protesters vow to increase pressure next week
Kyrgyz victims mourned, US base fate on hold
FDIC Shutters South Carolina Bank, 42nd U.S. Bank Failure This Year
China's $7.24B March trade deficit 1st in 6 years
Boston Childrens Museums Curious George Exhibit Scores With All Ages
U.S. Markets Gain On Energy, Dow Closes Just Shy Of 11K
Iraqi General Says It Is Not Possible To Stop Suicide Bombers, Lauds American Sacrifices
Pakistani c.bank buys 22 bln rupees of govt paper
China's $7.24B March trade deficit 1st in 6 years
China posts first monthly trade deficit in 6 years
Report: China had $7.24B trade deficit in March
Google, Apple rivalry heats up
US slaps import duties on Chinese steel pipe
LA judge to hear pre-trial Toyota lawsuits
Microsoft's latest phone experiment
|
Mexican acts line up for Vive Grupero festival
Major labels eager to enter iPad app marketplace
Aguilera's "Tonight" connects with radio listeners
"Hannah Montana" creators sue Disney for profits
Photo agencies seeing red over Cannes festival deal
Being a "Tudors" king changed Jonathan Rhys Meyers
"Twilight" actress Greene mixing in some "Butter"
Charlie Sheen says if TV show ends, "so be it"
Being a Tudors king changed Jonathan Rhys Meyers
|
Photo agencies seeing red over Cannes festival deal
|
Hannah Montana creators sue Disney for profits
|
Aguilera's Tonight connects with radio listeners
|
Major labels eager to enter iPad app marketplace
|
Mexican acts line up for Vive Grupero festival
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights