Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) claimed victory in Sri Lanka’s local government polls, with early results suggesting the recently formed breakaway of the SLFP swept a majority of local government wards in the south.
The party was claiming victory early yesterday evening, before official results were announced, with Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Namal tweeting, “Thank you to the people of Hambantota and those around the country for this resounding victory for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. The people have spoken their minds. They want change.”
According to the Sunday Times, the United National Party came in second overall while President Sirisena’s United People’s Freedom Alliance came a ‘distant’ third.