Overwhelming Tamil majority rejects elections under Sri Lankan State

A record number of candidates, numbering more than 1800 contested for the parliamentary seats in the North and East, but Eezham Tamils responded to it by a record low in participation. The turnout was only 18 percent in the North. The clear verdict of Eezham Tamils, said in the most profound democratic way under circumstances possible, is that they have no confidence in democracy under Sri Lankan State. Another interesting observation is that in the entire Jaffna district, the leading Tamil National Alliance (TNA) totally polled just 65,219, only as much as the 64,256 votes cast in favour of Vaddukkoaddai Resolution by the diaspora in UK alone. The silent but vast majority of Eezham Tamils at home demand new genre of political organisation and leadership is the message of Thursday’s polls.

According to the initial details from Jaffna, the ruling UPFA alliance, contested in the district by the EPDP and the SLFP, has polled 47,622 votes. The opposition UNP, with the chief candidate of the wife of slain Tamil MP Maheswaran has registered 12,624 votes and the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) registered 6,362 votes. The results are yet to be finalised and published by the Sri Lankan Department of Election.

TNA secures 5 of the 9 seats in Jaffna district, while Douglas Devandanda’s EPPD secures 3 and the UNP 1.

Douglas Devananda of the EPDP scored the highest number of preferential votes, 28,585 in the district.

TNA’s candidate Mavai Senathirajah has received 20,501 preferential votes, Suresh Premachandran registered 16,425, Vinayagamoorthy 15,311, S.Saravanabavan 14,961 and S.Shritharan 10,057 preferential votes.

Silvestri Alantine alias Uthayan of the EPDP registered 13,128 and Murugesu Chandrakumar alias Aosk registered 8,105 preferential votes.

Vijayakala Maheshwaran has received 7,160 preferential votes.

The SLFP candidates have been sidelined in Jaffna.

Results from the three electoral districts of the Eastern Province and the Vanni electoral district of Northern Province, are yet to be released.

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