Kandy's New Mayor and Council

Kandy has a new mayor, deputy mayor and a Council with one third freshmen councilors. The UNP retained power with a reduced poll. Its total poll declined by 25% from about 29,000 in 2002 to 22,000 in 2006. In contrast the PA increased its poll by almost 50% from around 10,000 to 15,000. However, even the canvassing by a freshly elected president failed to dislodge the UNP which has built over the years an almost unshakable base in this town.
The evidence suggests that part of the UNP's success in Kandy is its popularity among the minority Muslims (16% of the voters) and the Tamils (9%). None of the minority community candidates of the PA/SLFP won a seat whereas of the 14 UNP candidates that won, over one fifth three Muslims and two Tamils came from the minorities.
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