Colombo - The ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won an easy victory in provincial elections, the election commission confirmed with final results Sunday. The UFPA won in all 27 districts in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces, authorities said.
Polls were held in two of nine provinces where the government said it was seeking an endorsement for the ongoing military operations against Tamil rebels in northern Sri Lanka.
The ruling party won more than 50 per cent of the total votes cast in both provinces, securing 784,246 votes against the closest rival, the United National Party which secured 550,605 votes.
Of the 2.1 million registered voters, about 70 per cent voted, officials said.
"This is an endorsement for the government's military campaign against the terrorists (Tamil rebels)," Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa claimed on state-run radio.
Political parties and election monitors described the polls as free and fair.
Ahead of the vote, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa asked citizens to support his military campaign, which is in full swing against rebels in the north, by voting for his party.
The president is likely to go ahead with elections in six more provinces at least six months ahead of schedule.
In May the first provincial election was held in the eastern province, which was won by Rajapaksa's party.
