Sources close to President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday revealed that former Provincial Minister and senior SLFP politician Prasanna Ranatunge was likely to be the government’s pick for the Chief Minister’s post. A final decision would be taken shortly by the President, they said.

The government, which turned the polls into a referendum on its successful war against the LTTE, narrowly lost to the UNP at Borella and Colombo East by 2,044 and 2,032 votes respectively. The UNP also retained Colombo Central, Colombo West and Colombo North electorates which they won at the last elections to the WPC in July 2004.

While the UPFA campaign led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa focused on the security forces triumph over the LTTE, the UNP and JVP targeted the government over economic crisis, cost of living and corruption. Political sources said that a rift between the former SLFP leader Chandrika Kumaratunga and the incumbent President didn’t affect the party at all in the Gampaha district. Massive victories at Attanagalle and Dompe electorates where the UPFA polled 51,661 (72.94 %)and 48,383 (75.20 %)had reflected the mood of the people.

The UPFA obtained an overwhelming majority by winning 68 seats, including two bonus seats while the UNP secured 30. The JVP ended up a distant third with three seats. The SLMC and Democratic Unity Alliance (DUA) won 2 and 1 seats respectively.

The JVP contested the last WPC polls in 2004 on the UPFA ticket and won 23 slots. Of them nine represented Colombo, eight Gampaha and six Kalutara. Now the JVP has managed to produce just one candidate each from the three districts.

The SLMC which had four representatives in the last council has been reduced to two seats - one each in Gampaha and Colombo.

The government’s success was significant, particularly due to the polls being conducted under the PR system, a political analyst said.

The UPFA also secured the postal vote with an overwhelming majority. It polled 7,898 (77.81%) votes against 1,965 (19.11%) by the UNP in the Kalutara district. The JVP and SLMC polled 378 (3.68%) and 22 (0.21%) respectively.

The UPFA received 11, 376 (77.44%) postal votes in the Gampaha district while the UNP managed 2,700 (18.38%). The JVP polled 563 (3.83%) and SLMC 32 (0.22).

The ruling coalition also bagged the Colombo district by obtaining 5,914 (72.40%) votes. The UNP came second with 1,853 (22.69%) votes while the JVP and SLMC obtained 351 (4.30%) and 13 votes (0.16%) respectively.

The comfortable postal vote victory reflected the confidence public servants, including the armed forces and police has about the government.

The UNP comfortably won Colombo North, Colombo Central and Colombo West electorates.