NFF suffers a humiliating defeat

By Mandana Ismail Abeywekrema
The National Freedom Front (NFF) suffered a humiliating defeat at the recently concluded Southern Provincial Council election.
Following the defeat of the candidates put forward by Wimal Weerawansa’s NFF at the Southern Provincial Council election, Weerawansa last week said the election results were a warning to the government.
He said the government needed to seriously consider the message given by the southern voters.
The NFF which is an ally of the UPFA government fielded three candidates at the Southern Provincial Council election from Galle, Matara and Hambantota Districts. The NFF candidates polled either the lowest or second lowest preferential votes in the districts.
Wimal Weerawansa’s brother, Sarath Weerawansa who contested from the Matara District managed to obtain only 12,903 votes. Sarath’s votes are the second lowest number of preferential votes polled by a UPFA candidate.
During the election campaign, Sarath was accused of attacking and threatening JVP supporters in the Morawaka area in Matara.
NFF candidate for the Galle District, Priyantha Bellana had polled the lowest number of 13,629 preferential votes.
JVP defector, Wimal Weerawansa in the run up to the election claimed the NFF candidates would receive the preferential votes of all patriotic voters in the province.