# Chilaw Polling Division

The Chilaw Polling Division is a Polling Division in the Puttalam Electoral District, in the North Western Province, Sri Lanka.

## Presidential Election Results
### Summary

The winner of Chilaw has matched the final country result 6 out of 8 times. Hence, Chilaw is a Weak Bellwether for Presidential Elections.
| Year | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | MAE % | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | MAE % |
| 2019 | | SLPP | | SLPP | 3.65% | | SLPP | 2.07% |
| 2015 | | UPFA | | NDF | 1.52% | | NDF | 2.82% |
| 2010 | | UPFA | | UPFA | 0.94% | | UPFA | 1.64% |
| 2005 | | UNP | | UNP | 0.44% | | UPFA | 1.75% |
| 1999 | | PA | | PA | 0.63% | | PA | 0.91% |
| 1994 | | PA | | PA | 2.02% | | PA | 1.81% |
| 1988 | | UNP | | UNP | 2.48% | | UNP | 1.75% |
| 1982 | | UNP | | UNP | 1.45% | | UNP | 5.69% |
| Matches/Mean MAE | 6/8 | 6/8 | 7/8 | 7/8 | 1.64% | 8/8 | 8/8 | 2.30% |

### 2019 Sri Lankan Presidential Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | SLPP | | 51,233 | 54.57% | | 230,760 | 50.83% | | 6,924,255 | 52.25% |
| | NDF | | 37,512 | 39.96% | | 199,356 | 43.91% | | 5,564,239 | 41.99% |
| | NMPP | | 2,977 | 3.17% | | 12,912 | 2.84% | | 418,553 | 3.16% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 2,163 | 2.30% | | 10,948 | 2.41% | | 345,452 | 2.61% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 93,885 | 93,885 | 98.96% | 453,976 | 453,976 | 99.02% | 13,252,499 | 13,252,499 | 98.99% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 984 | 984 | 1.04% | 4,478 | 4,478 | 0.98% | 135,452 | 135,452 | 1.01% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 94,869 | 94,869 | 77.15% | 458,454 | 458,454 | 76.53% | 13,387,951 | 13,387,951 | 83.71% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 122,963 | 122,963 | | 599,042 | 599,042 | | 15,992,568 | 15,992,568 | |

### 2015 Sri Lankan Presidential Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | UPFA | | 43,928 | 50.50% | | 197,751 | 48.97% | | 5,768,090 | 47.58% |
| | NDF | | 42,187 | 48.50% | | 202,073 | 50.04% | | 6,217,162 | 51.28% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 870 | 1.00% | | 4,026 | 1.00% | | 138,200 | 1.14% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 86,985 | 86,985 | 98.88% | 403,850 | 403,850 | 98.95% | 12,123,452 | 12,123,452 | 98.85% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 985 | 985 | 1.12% | 4,300 | 4,300 | 1.05% | 140,925 | 140,925 | 1.15% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 87,970 | 87,970 | 74.44% | 408,150 | 408,150 | 72.50% | 12,264,377 | 12,264,377 | 78.69% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 118,171 | 118,171 | | 562,984 | 562,984 | | 15,585,942 | 15,585,942 | |

### 2010 Sri Lankan Presidential Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | UPFA | | 45,617 | 59.65% | | 201,981 | 58.70% | | 6,015,934 | 57.88% |
| | NDF | | 29,541 | 38.63% | | 136,233 | 39.59% | | 4,173,185 | 40.15% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 1,312 | 1.72% | | 5,899 | 1.71% | | 204,494 | 1.97% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 76,470 | 76,470 | 99.28% | 344,113 | 344,113 | 99.17% | 10,393,613 | 10,393,613 | 99.03% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 558 | 558 | 0.72% | 2,886 | 2,886 | 0.83% | 101,838 | 101,838 | 0.97% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 77,028 | 77,028 | 71.16% | 346,999 | 346,999 | 68.97% | 10,495,451 | 10,495,451 | 66.70% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 108,244 | 108,244 | | 503,106 | 503,106 | | 15,734,587 | 15,734,587 | |

### 2005 Sri Lankan Presidential Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | UNP | | 37,372 | 50.25% | | 169,264 | 50.71% | | 4,706,366 | 48.43% |
| | UPFA | | 36,115 | 48.56% | | 160,686 | 48.14% | | 4,887,152 | 50.29% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 891 | 1.20% | | 3,833 | 1.15% | | 123,521 | 1.27% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 74,378 | 74,378 | 99.09% | 333,783 | 333,783 | 98.95% | 9,717,039 | 9,717,039 | 98.88% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 685 | 685 | 0.91% | 3,536 | 3,536 | 1.05% | 109,869 | 109,869 | 1.12% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 75,063 | 75,063 | 72.89% | 337,319 | 337,319 | 70.56% | 9,826,908 | 9,826,908 | 69.51% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 102,987 | 102,987 | | 478,032 | 478,032 | | 14,136,979 | 14,136,979 | |

### 1999 Sri Lankan Presidential Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | PA | | 31,998 | 52.13% | | 141,725 | 51.47% | | 4,312,157 | 51.12% |
| | UNP | | 26,708 | 43.51% | | 121,615 | 44.17% | | 3,602,748 | 42.71% |
| | JVP | | 1,813 | 2.95% | | 7,876 | 2.86% | | 343,927 | 4.08% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 864 | 1.41% | | 4,123 | 1.50% | | 176,679 | 2.09% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 61,383 | 61,383 | 97.91% | 275,339 | 275,339 | 97.94% | 8,435,754 | 8,435,754 | 97.69% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 1,309 | 1,309 | 2.09% | 5,778 | 5,778 | 2.06% | 199,536 | 199,536 | 2.31% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 62,692 | 62,692 | 71.33% | 281,117 | 281,117 | 68.85% | 8,635,290 | 8,635,290 | 72.17% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 87,891 | 87,891 | | 408,331 | 408,331 | | 11,965,536 | 11,965,536 | |

### 1994 Sri Lankan Presidential Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | PA | | 35,415 | 60.62% | | 165,795 | 62.65% | | 4,709,205 | 62.28% |
| | UNP | | 22,240 | 38.07% | | 95,211 | 35.98% | | 2,715,283 | 35.91% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 766 | 1.31% | | 3,629 | 1.37% | | 137,040 | 1.81% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 58,421 | 58,421 | 98.42% | 264,635 | 264,635 | 98.26% | 7,561,526 | 7,561,526 | 98.03% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 936 | 936 | 1.58% | 4,689 | 4,689 | 1.74% | 151,706 | 151,706 | 1.97% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 59,357 | 59,357 | 71.47% | 269,324 | 269,324 | 69.80% | 7,713,232 | 7,713,232 | 69.12% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 83,057 | 83,057 | | 385,854 | 385,854 | | 11,158,880 | 11,158,880 | |

### 1988 Sri Lankan Presidential Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | UNP | | 27,932 | 53.55% | | 125,339 | 55.89% | | 2,569,199 | 50.43% |
| | SLFP | | 23,485 | 45.02% | | 94,823 | 42.28% | | 2,289,857 | 44.95% |
| | SLMP | | 748 | 1.43% | | 4,093 | 1.83% | | 235,701 | 4.63% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 52,165 | 52,165 | 98.62% | 224,255 | 224,255 | 98.70% | 5,094,754 | 5,094,754 | 98.24% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 731 | 731 | 1.38% | 2,965 | 2,965 | 1.30% | 91,499 | 91,499 | 1.76% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 52,896 | 52,896 | 74.95% | 227,220 | 227,220 | 70.70% | 5,186,256 | 5,186,256 | 55.87% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 70,574 | 70,574 | | 321,387 | 321,387 | | 9,283,143 | 9,283,143 | |

### 1982 Sri Lankan Presidential Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | UNP | | 30,142 | 60.75% | | 128,877 | 59.12% | | 3,450,815 | 52.93% |
| | SLFP | | 17,553 | 35.38% | | 80,006 | 36.70% | | 2,546,348 | 39.05% |
| | JVP | | 1,525 | 3.07% | | 7,001 | 3.21% | | 273,428 | 4.19% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 397 | 0.80% | | 2,096 | 0.96% | | 249,460 | 3.83% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 49,617 | 49,617 | 99.04% | 217,980 | 217,980 | 99.09% | 6,520,156 | 6,520,156 | 98.78% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 479 | 479 | 0.96% | 1,995 | 1,995 | 0.91% | 80,470 | 80,470 | 1.22% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 50,096 | 50,096 | 81.95% | 219,975 | 219,975 | 81.41% | 6,600,626 | 6,600,626 | 80.15% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 61,128 | 61,128 | | 270,207 | 270,207 | | 8,235,358 | 8,235,358 | |

## Parliamentary Election Results
### Summary

The winner of Chilaw has matched the final country result 7 out of 7 times. Hence, Chilaw is a Perfect Bellwether for Parliamentary Elections.
| Year | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | MAE % | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | MAE % |
| 2015 | | UNP | | UNP | 1.40% | | UNP | 3.26% |
| 2010 | | UPFA | | UPFA | 1.11% | | UPFA | 3.92% |
| 2004 | | UPFA | | UPFA | 0.38% | | UPFA | 5.01% |
| 2001 | | UNP | | UNP | 0.98% | | UNP | 4.20% |
| 2000 | | PA | | PA | 1.76% | | PA | 3.15% |
| 1994 | | PA | | PA | 1.70% | | PA | 2.84% |
| 1989 | | UNP | | UNP | 1.67% | | UNP | 6.65% |
| Matches/Mean MAE | 7/7 | 7/7 | 7/7 | 7/7 | 1.28% | 7/7 | 7/7 | 4.15% |

### 2015 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | UNP | | 38,482 | 50.21% | | 180,185 | 51.81% | | 5,098,916 | 45.77% |
| | UPFA | | 34,701 | 45.27% | | 153,130 | 44.03% | | 4,732,664 | 42.48% |
| | JVP | | 3,077 | 4.01% | | 12,211 | 3.51% | | 544,154 | 4.88% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 387 | 0.50% | | 2,263 | 0.65% | | 82,383 | 0.74% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 76,647 | 76,647 | 94.12% | 347,789 | 347,789 | 91.37% | 11,140,333 | 11,140,333 | 95.35% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 4,710 | 4,710 | 5.78% | 23,124 | 23,124 | 6.08% | 516,926 | 516,926 | 4.42% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 81,433 | 81,433 | 68.91% | 380,632 | 380,632 | 68.83% | 11,684,111 | 11,684,111 | 77.66% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 118,171 | 118,171 | | 553,009 | 553,009 | | 15,044,490 | 15,044,490 | |

### 2010 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | UPFA | | 38,073 | 66.11% | | 167,769 | 64.84% | | 4,846,388 | 60.38% |
| | UNP | | 17,555 | 30.48% | | 81,152 | 31.36% | | 2,357,057 | 29.37% |
| | DNA | | 1,759 | 3.05% | | 8,792 | 3.40% | | 441,251 | 5.50% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 203 | 0.35% | | 1,028 | 0.40% | | 33,372 | 0.42% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 57,590 | 57,590 | 93.06% | 258,741 | 258,741 | 92.29% | 8,026,322 | 8,026,322 | 96.03% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 4,288 | 4,288 | 6.93% | 21,562 | 21,562 | 7.69% | 581,465 | 581,465 | 6.96% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 61,884 | 61,884 | 57.17% | 280,354 | 280,354 | 55.67% | 8,358,246 | 8,358,246 | 59.29% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 108,244 | 108,244 | | 503,635 | 503,635 | | 14,097,690 | 14,097,690 | |

### 2004 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | UPFA | | 31,124 | 48.77% | | 142,784 | 49.31% | | 4,223,126 | 45.70% |
| | UNP | | 29,934 | 46.91% | | 135,152 | 46.67% | | 3,486,792 | 37.73% |
| | JHU | | 2,352 | 3.69% | | 10,000 | 3.45% | | 552,723 | 5.98% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 404 | 0.63% | | 1,652 | 0.57% | | 62,157 | 0.67% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 63,814 | 63,814 | 93.82% | 289,588 | 289,588 | 93.06% | 9,241,931 | 9,241,931 | 94.52% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 4,169 | 4,169 | 6.13% | 21,431 | 21,431 | 6.89% | 534,452 | 534,452 | 5.47% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 68,018 | 68,018 | 69.13% | 311,194 | 311,194 | 69.15% | 9,777,821 | 9,777,821 | 75.74% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 98,394 | 98,394 | | 450,057 | 450,057 | | 12,909,631 | 12,909,631 | |

### 2001 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | UNP | | 32,254 | 49.63% | | 146,873 | 50.61% | | 4,086,026 | 45.62% |
| | PA | | 27,821 | 42.81% | | 120,981 | 41.69% | | 3,330,815 | 37.19% |
| | JVP | | 3,888 | 5.98% | | 18,095 | 6.24% | | 815,353 | 9.10% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 1,023 | 1.57% | | 4,260 | 1.47% | | 116,969 | 1.31% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 64,986 | 64,986 | 95.39% | 290,209 | 290,209 | 95.20% | 8,955,844 | 8,955,844 | 94.77% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 3,142 | 3,142 | 4.61% | 14,638 | 14,638 | 4.80% | 494,009 | 494,009 | 5.23% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 68,128 | 68,128 | 73.22% | 304,847 | 304,847 | 71.53% | 9,449,878 | 9,449,878 | 76.03% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 93,040 | 93,040 | | 426,193 | 426,193 | | 12,428,762 | 12,428,762 | |

### 2000 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | PA | | 30,124 | 47.91% | | 138,747 | 48.40% | | 3,899,329 | 45.33% |
| | UNP | | 28,110 | 44.70% | | 118,566 | 41.36% | | 3,451,765 | 40.12% |
| | JVP | | 2,558 | 4.07% | | 11,256 | 3.93% | | 518,725 | 6.03% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 1,256 | 2.00% | | 5,809 | 2.03% | | 236,331 | 2.75% |
| | NUA | | 833 | 1.32% | | 12,317 | 4.30% | | 185,593 | 2.16% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 62,881 | 62,881 | N/A | 286,695 | 286,695 | N/A | 8,602,617 | 8,602,617 | N/A |

### 1994 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | PA | | 31,999 | 51.91% | | 150,587 | 53.64% | | 3,887,805 | 48.94% |
| | UNP | | 29,076 | 47.17% | | 127,671 | 45.48% | | 3,498,370 | 44.04% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 567 | 0.92% | | 2,453 | 0.87% | | 158,616 | 2.00% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 61,642 | 61,642 | 95.77% | 280,711 | 280,711 | 95.52% | 7,943,688 | 7,943,688 | 95.20% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 2,723 | 2,723 | 4.23% | 13,144 | 13,144 | 4.47% | 400,395 | 400,395 | 4.80% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 64,365 | 64,365 | 77.49% | 293,873 | 293,873 | 76.19% | 8,344,095 | 8,344,095 | 74.75% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 83,057 | 83,057 | | 385,690 | 385,690 | | 11,163,064 | 11,163,064 | |

### 1989 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election

| Party | Party | Chilaw | Chilaw | Chilaw | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Puttalam Electoral District | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Party | Party | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % | Votes | Votes | % |
| | UNP | | 30,573 | 61.53% | | 139,309 | 62.62% | | 2,838,005 | 50.71% |
| | SLFP | | 17,456 | 35.13% | | 71,687 | 32.22% | | 1,785,369 | 31.90% |
| | Other Parties (with < 1%) | | 957 | 1.93% | | 5,226 | 2.35% | | 211,176 | 3.77% |
| | SLMC | | 699 | 1.41% | | 6,253 | 2.81% | | 202,016 | 3.61% |
| Valid Votes | Valid Votes | 49,685 | 49,685 | 94.61% | 222,475 | 222,475 | 94.40% | 5,596,468 | 5,596,468 | 93.87% |
| Rejected Votes | Rejected Votes | 2,832 | 2,832 | 5.39% | 13,205 | 13,205 | 5.60% | 365,563 | 365,563 | 6.13% |
| Total Polled | Total Polled | 52,517 | 52,517 | 75.30% | 235,680 | 235,680 | 73.94% | 5,962,031 | 5,962,031 | 63.60% |
| Registered Electors | Registered Electors | 69,743 | 69,743 | | 318,755 | 318,755 | | 9,374,164 | 9,374,164 | |

## Demographics
### Ethnicity

The Chilaw Polling Division has a Sinhalese majority (76.7%) and a significant Moor population (13.5%) . In comparison, the Puttalam Electoral District (which contains the Chilaw Polling Division) has a Sinhalese majority (73.6%) and a significant Moor population (19.4%)
Ethnicity in Chilaw

### Religion

The Chilaw Polling Division has a Buddhist plurality (46.9%), a significant Roman Catholic population (30.6%) and a significant Muslim population (13.8%) . In comparison, the Puttalam Electoral District (which contains the Chilaw Polling Division) has a Buddhist plurality (43.2%), a significant Roman Catholic population (31.5%) and a significant Muslim population (19.7%)
Religion in Chilaw