# 2004 Sri Lankan provincial council elections

The 2004 Sri Lankan provincial council election was held on 24 April 2004 and 10 July 2004 to elect members to seven provincial councils in Sri Lanka. No election was held in the eighth province, North Eastern, which had been governed directly by the national government since March 1990. The United People's Freedom Alliance, which was in power nationally, won all seven provinces.

## Background

In an attempt to end the Sri Lankan Civil War the Indo-Lanka Accord was signed on 29 July 1987. One of the requirements of the accord was that the Sri Lankan government to devolve powers to the provinces. Accordingly on 14 November 1987 the Sri Lankan Parliament passed the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka and the Provincial Councils Act No 42 of 1987. On 3 February 1988 nine provincial councils were created by order. The first elections for provincial councils took place on 28 April 1988 in North Central, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva provinces. On 2 June 1988 elections were held for provincial councils for Central, Southern and Western provinces. The United National Party (UNP), which was in power nationally, won control of all seven provincial councils.
The Indo-Lanka Accord also required the merger of the Eastern and Northern provinces into one administrative unit. The accord required a referendum to be held by 31 December 1988 in the Eastern Province to decide whether the merger should be permanent. Crucially, the accord allowed the Sri Lankan president to postpone the referendum at his discretion. On September 2 and 8 1988 President Jayewardene issued proclamations enabling the Eastern and Northern provinces to be one administrative unit administered by one elected council, creating the North Eastern Province. Elections in the newly merged North Eastern Province were held on 19 November 1988. The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, an Indian backed paramilitary group, won control of the North Eastern provincial council.
On 1 March 1990, just as the Indian Peace Keeping Force were preparing to withdraw from Sri Lanka, Annamalai Varatharajah Perumal, Chief Minister of the North Eastern Province, moved a motion in the North Eastern Provincial Council declaring an independent Eelam. President Premadasa reacted to Permual's UDI by dissolving the provincial council and imposing direct rule on the province.
The 2nd Sri Lankan provincial council election was held in 1993 in seven provinces. The UNP retained control of six provincial councils but lost control of the largest provincial council, Western, to the opposition People's Alliance. A special election was held in Southern Province in 1994 after some UNP provincial councillors defected to the opposition. The PA won the election and took control of the Southern Provincial Council.
The 3rd Sri Lankan provincial council election was held in 1999 in seven provinces. The PA, which was now in power nationally, managed to win the majority of seats in two provinces (North Central and North Western). It was also able to form a majority administration in the other five provinces with the support of smaller parties such as the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) . The UNP regained control of the Central Provincial Council in 2002 after the CWC councillors crossed over to the opposition.

## Results

The United People's Freedom Alliance, the successor to the PA, won all seven provinces.

### Overall

| Party / Alliance | Votes | % | Seats |
| United People's Freedom Alliance | 3,364,239 | 57.68% | 227 |
| United National Party$^{12}$ | 2,197,892 | 37.68% | 140 |
| Sri Lanka Muslim Congress$^1$ | 119,796 | 2.05% | 7 |
| Up-Country People's Front | 52,639 | 0.90% | 3 |
| United Socialist Party | 21,372 | 0.37% | 0 |
| Western People's Front | 15,871 | 0.27% | 1 |
| Independents | 11,976 | 0.21% | 0 |
| Ceylon Workers' Congress$^2$ | 10,720 | 0.18% | 1 |
| National Development Front | 10,493 | 0.18% | 0 |
| Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya | 6,981 | 0.12% | 0 |
| Democratic Unity Alliance | 6,219 | 0.11% | 1 |
| United Lalith Front | 3,765 | 0.06% | 0 |
| New Left Front | 3,589 | 0.06% | 0 |
| Liberal Party | 1,450 | 0.02% | 0 |
| United Sinhala Great Council | 1,304 | 0.02% | 0 |
| United Muslim People's Alliance | 1,139 | 0.02% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Muslim Party | 752 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Progressive Front | 730 | 0.01% | 0 |
| People's Liberation Solidarity Front | 617 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Ruhuna People's Party | 311 | 0.01% | 0 |
| National Democratic Party | 287 | 0.00% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka National Front | 224 | 0.00% | 0 |
| Democratic United National Front | 218 | 0.00% | 0 |
| National People's Party | 124 | 0.00% | 0 |
| Valid Votes | 5,832,708 | 100.00% | 380 |
| Rejected Votes | 380,055 | | |
| Total Polled | 6,212,763 | | |
| Registered Electors | 11,121,889 | | |
| Turnout | 55.86% | | |
| 1. SLMC contested separately in North Central, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Western provinces, and with the UNP in Central and Uva provinces. 2. CWC contested separately in Sabaragamuwa province and with the UNP in all other provinces. ||||

### Central Province

Results of the 4th Central provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:
| Party / Alliance | Kandy | Kandy | Kandy | Matale | Matale | Matale | Nuwara Eliya | Nuwara Eliya | Nuwara Eliya | Bonus Seats | Total | Total | Total |
| Party / Alliance | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Bonus Seats | Votes | % | Seats |
| United People's Freedom Alliance | 244,595 | 54.17% | 16 | 92,510 | 56.12% | 6 | 89,192 | 32.75% | 6 | 2 | 426,297 | 47.97% | 30 |
| United National Party | 202,264 | 44.80% | 14 | 69,309 | 42.04% | 4 | 138,572 | 50.88% | 8 | | 410,145 | 46.15% | 26 |
| Up-Country People's Front | | | | 1,135 | 0.69% | 0 | 36,939 | 13.56% | 2 | | 38,074 | 4.28% | 2 |
| United Socialist Party | 1,088 | 0.24% | 0 | 1,152 | 0.70% | 0 | 3,896 | 1.43% | 0 | | 6,136 | 0.69% | 0 |
| Independents | 390 | 0.09% | 0 | 120 | 0.07% | 0 | 2,131 | 0.78% | 0 | | 2,641 | 0.30% | 0 |
| National Development Front | 1,360 | 0.30% | 0 | 399 | 0.24% | 0 | 521 | 0.19% | 0 | | 2,280 | 0.26% | 0 |
| United Muslim People's Alliance | 987 | 0.22% | 0 | | | | | | | | 987 | 0.11% | 0 |
| Liberal Party | | | | | | | 860 | 0.32% | 0 | | 860 | 0.10% | 0 |
| Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya | 419 | 0.09% | 0 | 117 | 0.07% | 0 | 76 | 0.03% | 0 | | 612 | 0.07% | 0 |
| National Democratic Party | 178 | 0.04% | 0 | | | | 109 | 0.04% | 0 | | 287 | 0.03% | 0 |
| Ruhuna People's Party | 161 | 0.04% | 0 | | | | 31 | 0.01% | 0 | | 192 | 0.02% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Progressive Front | 76 | 0.02% | 0 | | | | | | | | 76 | 0.01% | 0 |
| National People's Party | | | | 62 | 0.04% | 0 | | | | | 62 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Muslim Party | | | | 53 | 0.03% | 0 | | | | | 53 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Valid Votes | 451,518 | 100.00% | 30 | 164,857 | 100.00% | 10 | 272,327 | 100.00% | 16 | 2 | 888,702 | 100.00% | 58 |
| Rejected Votes | 31,502 | | | 12,469 | | | 23,375 | | | | 67,346 | | |
| Total Polled | 483,020 | | | 177,326 | | | 295,702 | | | | 956,048 | | |
| Registered Electors | 880,635 | | | 312,556 | | | 436,248 | | | | 1,629,439 | | |
| Turnout | 54.85% | | | 56.73% | | | 67.78% | | | | 58.67% | | |

### North Central Province

Results of the 4th North Central provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:
| Party / Alliance | Anuradhapura | Anuradhapura | Anuradhapura | Polonnaruwa | Polonnaruwa | Polonnaruwa | Bonus Seats | Total | Total | Total |
| Party / Alliance | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Bonus Seats | Votes | % | Seats |
| United People's Freedom Alliance | 187,977 | 63.92% | 14 | 91,067 | 62.19% | 6 | 2 | 279,044 | 63.34% | 22 |
| United National Party | 89,166 | 30.32% | 6 | 54,534 | 37.24% | 4 | | 143,700 | 32.62% | 10 |
| Sri Lanka Muslim Congress | 14,391 | 4.89% | 1 | | | | | 14,391 | 3.27% | 1 |
| United Socialist Party | 1,217 | 0.41% | 0 | 620 | 0.42% | 0 | | 1,837 | 0.42% | 0 |
| National Development Front | 845 | 0.29% | 0 | | | | | 845 | 0.19% | 0 |
| Independents | 222 | 0.08% | 0 | 130 | 0.09% | 0 | | 352 | 0.08% | 0 |
| Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya | 74 | 0.03% | 0 | 54 | 0.04% | 0 | | 128 | 0.03% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Progressive Front | 126 | 0.04% | 0 | | | | | 126 | 0.03% | 0 |
| United Sinhala Great Council | 73 | 0.02% | 0 | 28 | 0.02% | 0 | | 101 | 0.02% | 0 |
| Valid Votes | 294,091 | 100.00% | 21 | 146,433 | 100.00% | 10 | 2 | 440,524 | 100.00% | 33 |
| Rejected Votes | 21,600 | | | 9,831 | | | | 31,431 | | |
| Total Polled | 315,691 | | | 156,264 | | | | 471,955 | | |
| Registered Electors | 514,149 | | | 254,061 | | | | 768,210 | | |
| Turnout | 61.40% | | | 61.51% | | | | 61.44% | | |

### North Western Province

Results of the 4th North Western provincial council election held on 24 April 2004:
| Party / Alliance | Kurunegala | Kurunegala | Kurunegala | Puttalam | Puttalam | Puttalam | Bonus Seats | Total | Total | Total |
| Party / Alliance | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Bonus Seats | Votes | % | Seats |
| United People's Freedom Alliance | 362,084 | 59.85% | 20 | 128,916 | 57.10% | 9 | 2 | 491,000 | 59.10% | 31 |
| United National Party | 215,905 | 35.69% | 12 | 95,868 | 42.46% | 7 | | 311,773 | 37.53% | 19 |
| Sri Lanka Muslim Congress | 24,173 | 4.00% | 2 | | | | | 24,173 | 2.91% | 2 |
| National Development Front | 623 | 0.10% | 0 | 450 | 0.20% | 0 | | 1,073 | 0.13% | 0 |
| United Lalith Front | 883 | 0.15% | 0 | | | | | 883 | 0.11% | 0 |
| New Left Front | 476 | 0.08% | 0 | 89 | 0.04% | 0 | | 565 | 0.07% | 0 |
| Independents | 178 | 0.03% | 0 | 195 | 0.09% | 0 | | 373 | 0.04% | 0 |
| Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya | 295 | 0.05% | 0 | 48 | 0.02% | 0 | | 343 | 0.04% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Progressive Front | 145 | 0.02% | 0 | 15 | 0.01% | 0 | | 160 | 0.02% | 0 |
| United Muslim People's Alliance | | | | 152 | 0.07% | 0 | | 152 | 0.02% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Muslim Party | 83 | 0.01% | 0 | 15 | 0.01% | 0 | | 98 | 0.01% | 0 |
| United Sinhala Great Council | 91 | 0.02% | 0 | | | | | 91 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka National Front | 43 | 0.01% | 0 | | | | | 43 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Ruhuna People's Party | | | | 17 | 0.01% | 0 | | 17 | 0.00% | 0 |
| Valid Votes | 604,979 | 100.00% | 34 | 225,765 | 100.00% | 16 | 2 | 830,744 | 100.00% | 52 |
| Rejected Votes | 28,019 | | | 9,600 | | | | 37,619 | | |
| Total Polled | 632,998 | | | 235,365 | | | | 868,363 | | |
| Registered Electors | 1,089,482 | | | 450,057 | | | | 1,539,539 | | |
| Turnout | 58.10% | | | 52.30% | | | | 56.40% | | |

### Sabaragamuwa Province

Results of the 4th Sabaragamuwa provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:
| Party / Alliance | Kegalle | Kegalle | Kegalle | Ratnapura | Ratnapura | Ratnapura | Bonus Seats | Total | Total | Total |
| Party / Alliance | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Bonus Seats | Votes | % | Seats |
| United People's Freedom Alliance | 185,112 | 58.90% | 11 | 213,619 | 61.07% | 15 | 2 | 398,731 | 60.04% | 28 |
| United National Party | 115,551 | 36.77% | 7 | 119,681 | 34.22% | 8 | | 235,232 | 35.42% | 15 |
| Ceylon Workers Congress | 4,295 | 1.37% | 0 | 6,425 | 1.84% | 1 | | 10,720 | 1.61% | 1 |
| Sri Lanka Muslim Congress | 6,770 | 2.15% | 0 | 3,731 | 1.07% | 0 | | 10,501 | 1.58% | 0 |
| United Socialist Party | 798 | 0.25% | 0 | 1,261 | 0.36% | 0 | | 2,059 | 0.31% | 0 |
| Up-Country People's Front | | | | 1,806 | 0.52% | 0 | | 1,806 | 0.27% | 0 |
| United Lalith Front | 584 | 0.19% | 0 | 707 | 0.20% | 0 | | 1,291 | 0.19% | 0 |
| National Development Front | 423 | 0.13% | 0 | 512 | 0.15% | 0 | | 935 | 0.14% | 0 |
| Western People's Front | | | | 854 | 0.24% | 0 | | 854 | 0.13% | 0 |
| Independents | 339 | 0.11% | 0 | 500 | 0.14% | 0 | | 839 | 0.13% | 0 |
| Liberal Party | | | | 262 | 0.07% | 0 | | 262 | 0.04% | 0 |
| United Sinhala Great Council | 84 | 0.03% | 0 | 96 | 0.03% | 0 | | 180 | 0.03% | 0 |
| Democratic United National Front | 80 | 0.03% | 0 | 83 | 0.02% | 0 | | 163 | 0.02% | 0 |
| Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya | 158 | 0.05% | 0 | | | | | 158 | 0.02% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Muslim Party | | | | 133 | 0.04% | 0 | | 133 | 0.02% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Progressive Front | 63 | 0.02% | 0 | 52 | 0.01% | 0 | | 115 | 0.02% | 0 |
| National People's Party | | | | 62 | 0.02% | 0 | | 62 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Ruhuna People's Party | 39 | 0.01% | 0 | | | | | 39 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Valid Votes | 314,296 | 100.00% | 18 | 349,784 | 100.00% | 24 | 2 | 664,080 | 100.00% | 44 |
| Rejected Votes | 19,779 | | | 22,652 | | | | 42,431 | | |
| Total Polled | 334,075 | | | 372,436 | | | | 706,511 | | |
| Registered Electors | 570,299 | | | 647,035 | | | | 1,217,334 | | |
| Turnout | 58.58% | | | 57.56% | | | | 58.04% | | |

### Southern Province

Results of the 5th Southern provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:
| Party / Alliance | Galle | Galle | Galle | Hambantota | Hambantota | Hambantota | Matara | Matara | Matara | Bonus Seats | Total | Total | Total |
| Party / Alliance | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Bonus Seats | Votes | % | Seats |
| United People's Freedom Alliance | 238,285 | 62.50% | 14 | 141,283 | 70.12% | 8 | 182,076 | 64.30% | 12 | 2 | 561,644 | 64.86% | 36 |
| United National Party | 139,168 | 36.51% | 9 | 58,327 | 28.95% | 4 | 94,448 | 33.35% | 6 | | 291,943 | 33.72% | 19 |
| Independents | 361 | 0.09% | 0 | 409 | 0.20% | 0 | 4,615 | 1.63% | 0 | | 5,385 | 0.62% | 0 |
| United Socialist Party | 2,278 | 0.60% | 0 | 1,004 | 0.50% | 0 | 534 | 0.19% | 0 | | 3,816 | 0.44% | 0 |
| United Lalith Front | 472 | 0.12% | 0 | | | | 348 | 0.12% | 0 | | 820 | 0.09% | 0 |
| Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya | 411 | 0.11% | 0 | 78 | 0.04% | 0 | 182 | 0.06% | 0 | | 671 | 0.08% | 0 |
| People's Liberation Solidarity Front | | | | | | | 617 | 0.22% | 0 | | 617 | 0.07% | 0 |
| United Sinhala Great Council | 159 | 0.04% | 0 | 56 | 0.03% | 0 | 172 | 0.06% | 0 | | 387 | 0.04% | 0 |
| National Development Front | | | | 267 | 0.13% | 0 | | | | | 267 | 0.03% | 0 |
| Liberal Party | | | | | | | 186 | 0.07% | 0 | | 186 | 0.02% | 0 |
| Ruhuna People's Party | 94 | 0.02% | 0 | | | | | | | | 94 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Progressive Front | | | | 43 | 0.02% | 0 | | | | | 43 | 0.00% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka National Front | | | | 29 | 0.01% | 0 | | | | | 29 | 0.00% | 0 |
| Valid Votes | 381,228 | 100.00% | 23 | 201,496 | 100.00% | 12 | 283,178 | 100.00% | 18 | 2 | 865,902 | 100.00% | 55 |
| Rejected Votes | 23,633 | | | 13,725 | | | 16,992 | | | | 54,350 | | |
| Total Polled | 404,861 | | | 215,221 | | | 300,170 | | | | 920,252 | | |
| Registered Electors | 716,609 | | | 384,361 | | | 551,506 | | | | 1,652,476 | | |
| Turnout | 56.50% | | | 55.99% | | | 54.43% | | | | 55.69% | | |

### Uva Province

Results of the 4th Uva provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:
| Party / Alliance | Badulla | Badulla | Badulla | Monaragala | Monaragala | Monaragala | Bonus Seats | Total | Total | Total |
| Party / Alliance | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Bonus Seats | Votes | % | Seats |
| United People's Freedom Alliance | 169,197 | 55.48% | 12 | 97,878 | 66.24% | 7 | 2 | 267,075 | 58.99% | 21 |
| United National Party | 119,171 | 39.08% | 8 | 48,930 | 33.12% | 4 | | 168,101 | 37.13% | 12 |
| Up-Country People's Front | 12,759 | 4.18% | 1 | | | | | 12,759 | 2.82% | 1 |
| United Socialist Party | 2,364 | 0.78% | 0 | 616 | 0.42% | 0 | | 2,980 | 0.66% | 0 |
| National Development Front | 523 | 0.17% | 0 | | | | | 523 | 0.12% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Muslim Party | 468 | 0.15% | 0 | | | | | 468 | 0.10% | 0 |
| Independents | 231 | 0.08% | 0 | 117 | 0.08% | 0 | | 348 | 0.08% | 0 |
| Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya | 246 | 0.08% | 0 | 65 | 0.04% | 0 | | 311 | 0.07% | 0 |
| Democratic United National Front | | | | 55 | 0.04% | 0 | | 55 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka National Front | | | | 39 | 0.03% | 0 | | 39 | 0.01% | 0 |
| United Sinhala Great Council | | | | 33 | 0.02% | 0 | | 33 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Progressive Front | | | | 20 | 0.01% | 0 | | 20 | 0.00% | 0 |
| Valid Votes | 304,959 | 100.00% | 21 | 147,753 | 100.00% | 11 | 2 | 452,712 | 100.00% | 34 |
| Rejected Votes | 25,628 | | | 10,831 | | | | 36,459 | | |
| Total Polled | 330,587 | | | 158,584 | | | | 489,171 | | |
| Registered Electors | 511,115 | | | 262,742 | | | | 773,857 | | |
| Turnout | 64.68% | | | 60.36% | | | | 63.21% | | |

### Western Province

Results of the 4th Western provincial council election held on 10 July 2004:
| Party / Alliance | Colombo | Colombo | Colombo | Gampaha | Gampaha | Gampaha | Kalutara | Kalutara | Kalutara | Bonus Seats | Total | Total | Total |
| Party / Alliance | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Bonus Seats | Votes | % | Seats |
| United People's Freedom Alliance | 322,653 | 49.11% | 21 | 392,881 | 61.35% | 24 | 224,914 | 57.27% | 12 | 2 | 940,448 | 55.65% | 59 |
| United National Party | 276,759 | 42.12% | 18 | 218,903 | 34.19% | 14 | 141,336 | 35.99% | 7 | | 636,998 | 37.69% | 39 |
| Sri Lanka Muslim Congress | 31,184 | 4.75% | 2 | 16,621 | 2.60% | 1 | 22,926 | 5.84% | 1 | | 70,731 | 4.19% | 4 |
| Western People's Front | 12,219 | 1.86% | 1 | 2,798 | 0.44% | 0 | | | | | 15,017 | 0.89% | 1 |
| Democratic Unity Alliance | 6,219 | 0.95% | 1 | | | | | | | | 6,219 | 0.37% | 1 |
| Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Bhoomiputra Pakshaya | 2,194 | 0.33% | 0 | 2,564 | 0.40% | 0 | | | | | 4,758 | 0.28% | 0 |
| National Development Front | 1,337 | 0.20% | 0 | 2,361 | 0.37% | 0 | 872 | 0.22% | 0 | | 4,570 | 0.27% | 0 |
| United Socialist Party | | | | 2,419 | 0.38% | 0 | 2,125 | 0.54% | 0 | | 4,544 | 0.27% | 0 |
| New Left Front | 3,024 | 0.46% | 0 | | | | | | | | 3,024 | 0.18% | 0 |
| Independents | 251 | 0.04% | 0 | 1,262 | 0.20% | 0 | 525 | 0.13% | 0 | | 2,038 | 0.12% | 0 |
| United Lalith Front | 771 | 0.12% | 0 | | | | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | | 771 | 0.05% | 0 |
| United Sinhala Great Council | 276 | 0.04% | 0 | 236 | 0.04% | 0 | | | | | 512 | 0.03% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka Progressive Front | | | | 159 | 0.02% | 0 | | | | | 159 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Liberal Party | | | | 142 | 0.02% | 0 | | | | | 142 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Sri Lanka National Front | 113 | 0.02% | 0 | | | | | | | | 113 | 0.01% | 0 |
| Valid Votes | 657,000 | 100.00% | 43 | 640,346 | 100.00% | 39 | 392,698 | 100.00% | 20 | 2 | 1,690,044 | 100.00% | 104 |
| Rejected Votes | 45,004 | | | 38,790 | | | 26,625 | | | | 110,419 | | |
| Total Polled | 702,004 | | | 679,136 | | | 419,323 | | | | 1,800,463 | | |
| Registered Electors | 1,467,751 | | | 1,327,145 | | | 746,138 | | | | 3,541,034 | | |
| Turnout | 47.83% | | | 51.17% | | | 56.20% | | | | 50.85% | | |