Sri Lanka's ruling party wins key poll but loses votes

Sri Lanka's ruling party led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa won the key provincial council election Sunday but lost votes and seats when compared to the previous polls.

Rajapaksa's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won 19 seats in the Uva provincial council election, an area bordering the southern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka, Xinhua reported.

The government hailed the victory at the elections, saying it showed the confidence the public have on the government and its post-war development drive.

Government Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the victory secured by the UPFA at the Uva poll will further ensure the stability of the government.

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) won 13 seats in the new council following the elections held Saturday.

The election was seen as significant ahead of the presidential and possibly general elections expected to be held next year with the UNP pushing for a change of government.

While the UPFA won overall in the Uva poll, it lost a few seats in the council when compared to the last elections held in 2009 following the end of a 30-year war between Tamil Tiger rebels and the military.

The UPFA had 25 seats in the Uva Provincial Council formed in 2009 while the UNP had seven seats.

In Saturday's election, the UPFA won 209,056 votes in the Badulla district located in Uva province and secured nine seats, whereas in 2009 the UPFA won 259,069 votes and got 14 seats from the district.

In the Monaragala district, the UPFA won 140,850 votes and got eight seats while in 2009 the UPFA won 159,837 votes and secured nine seats in the district. The UNP said it had gained some ground at the latest elections by increasing its vote base in Uva and is confident of the future.