First-of-its-kind local council election

YESTERDAY, the islanders exercised their franchise at a nation-wide local council election after seven years. The poll carried a lot of political significance as it was the first local council election since the non-conventional political alliance the National People's Power (NPP) came into power last year.

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The ruling political establishment had the upper hand in the contest, as the voters were unlikely to turn against an administration which has completed just five months since the Parliamentary Election last November. The Government was further aided by the lack of unity among its political opponents as well as their extremely poor political acumen. In Sri Lanka, throughout history, elections for provincial councils and local authorities have been won by the political forces associated with the prevalent Government of the time.

Nevertheless, the previous local council election was an exception, as the SLPP - which was led by the Rajapaksa family - recorded a resounding victory to the surprise of many. Ironically, at this particular election, the SLPP's prospects of gaining a meaningful representation among political authorities that are connected with the grassroots of the society appeared to be quite weak, with Rajapaksas having gone into political oblivion subsequent to the devastating economic crisis the country witnessed three years ago.