United People's Freedom Alliance
United People's Freedom Alliance එක්සත් ජනතා නිදහස් සන්ධානය ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சுதந்திரக் கூட்டணி | |
---|---|
Leader | Maithripala Sirisena |
Secretary-General | Mahinda Amaraweera |
Founded | 20 January 2004 |
Headquarters | 301, T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka. |
Youth wing | Nil Balakaya (Dissolved) |
Political position | Left-wing |
Parliament of Sri Lanka |
95 / 225 |
Election symbol | |
Betel Leaf | |
The United People's Freedom Alliance is a political alliance in Sri Lanka. The current leader of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Amaraweera is the general secretary of UPFA. [1][2][3] [4] The alliance was initially formed by:
- Sri Lanka Freedom Party
- Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (No longer a member)
- Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya
- Muslim National Unity Alliance
- Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
- Democratic United National Front
- Desha Vimukthi Janatha Party
History
In 2004 the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna signed a memorandum of understanding, of their political future. At the time the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party, Desha vimukthi Jantha Pakshaya, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna and National congress signed that historic document against the UNP. At a later stage ahead of the 2004 elections, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka and the Lanka Sama Samaja Party signed a memorandum of understanding with UPFA, so that CIC and LSSP candidates would take part in elections of the UPFA symbol.
At the 2004 legislative elections, the alliance won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats.[5]
In April 2005, a key coalition party, JVP, left the alliance, causing the government headed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga to become a minority government in the Sri Lankan parliament.
In the Sri Lankan presidential election, 2005, its candidate, Mahinda Rajapaksa, came first with 50.29% of the vote. Again in the Sri Lankan presidential election, 2010, Mahinda Rajapaksa won the election obtaining 57.88% of the vote for his second term of presidency.[6] However his main rival at the election, Sarath Fonseka denied the result accusing the government of carrying out an unacceptable media campaign against him using the state media and manipulating the result and vowed going to court. But the government denied such allegations and imprisoned him on charges of treason and sedition.[7]
In Opposition
In the Sri Lankan presidential election, 2015, its candidate, Mahinda Rajapaksa lost to common candidate Maithripala Sirisena. Rajapaksa manage only a 47.58% of the total votes cast. The UPFA lost its power in the parliament soon after the election. Sirisena was elected the leader of UPFA in March 2015.
Political Parties currently in the Alliance
- Sri Lanka Freedom Party
- Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya
- Ceylon Workers' Congress
- Communist Party of Sri Lanka
- Desha Vimukthi Janatha Pakshaya
- Democratic Left Front
- Eelam People's Democratic Party
- Eelavar Democratic Front
- Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
- National Freedom Front
- Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
- Sri-TELO (Pararajasingham Uthayarasa alias Uthayan Fraction)
Leaders
- Chandrika Kumaratunga - 20 January 2004 - 19 November 2005
- Mahinda Rajapaksa - 20 November 2005 - 13 March 2015
- Maithripala Sirisena - 14 March 2015 - Present
General-Secretaries
- Susil Premajayanth - 20 January 2004 - 14 August 2015
- Wiswa Warnapala - 14 August 2015 - 27 February 2016
- Mahinda Amaraweera - 8 March 2016 - Present
Electoral History
Election year | Votes | Vote % | Seats won | +/– | Government |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | 4,223,970 | 45.60% | 105 / 225 |
105 | Government |
2010 | 4,846,388 | 60.33% | 144 / 225 |
39 | Government |
2015 | 4,732,664 | 42.38% | 95 / 225 |
49 | Government / Opposition [lower-alpha 1] |
Election year | Candidate | Votes | Vote % | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Mahinda Rajapaksa | 4,887,152 | 50.29% | Won |
2010 | Mahinda Rajapaksa | 6,015,934 | 57.88% | Won |
2015 | Mahinda Rajapaksa | 5,768,090 | 47.58% | Lost [lower-alpha 2] |
Notes
- ↑ Part of the Alliance joined the Government of National Unity led by the United National Party and the rest stayed in the opposition
- ↑ Even though Rajapaksa was defeated, the winner Sirisena was a member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and subsequently became the UPFA chairman
References
- ↑ "New blow for Sri Lankan peace pact". CNN News. January 20, 2004.
- ↑ IRIN Asia | Asia | Sri Lanka | SRI LANKA: Testing times ahead of local elections in east | Governance Conflict | Feature
- ↑ "Maithreepala Sirisena appointed the chairman for UPFA". Adaderana. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- ↑ http://www.adaderana.lk/news/34483/mahinda-amaraweera-appointed-upfa-general-secretary
- ↑ "President wins Sri Lanka election". BBC News. April 4, 2004.
- ↑
- ↑ "Sri Lanka poll victory challenged". BBC News. 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2010-05-26.