United People's Freedom Alliance
Encyclopedia
The United People's Freedom Alliance is a political alliance
in Sri Lanka
. The current leader of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is Mahinda Rajapaksa
and Susil Premajayantha
is the general secretary of UPFA.
The alliance was formed by:
and the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
signed a memorandum of understanding with UPFA, so that CIC and LSSP candidates would take part in elections of the UNP symbol.
At the last legislative elections
, 2 April 2004, the alliance won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats.
In April 2005, a key coalition party, JVP, left the alliance, causing the government headed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga to become a minority government in the Sri Lankan parliament.
In the Sri Lankan presidential election, 2005
, its candidate, Mahinda Rajapaksa
, came first with 50.29% of the vote. Again in the Sri Lankan presidential election, 2010
, Mahinda Rajapaksa
won the election obtaining 57.88% of the vote for his second term of presidency. However his main rival at the election, Sarath Fonseka
denied the result accusing the government of carrying out an unacceptable media campaign against him using the state media and manipulating the result and vowed going to court. But the government denied such allegations and imprisoned him on charges of treason and sedition.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. The current leader of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Percy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
and Susil Premajayantha
A. D. Susil Premajayanth
Achchige Don Susil Premajayanth is a Sri Lankan politician and a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.-References:...
is the general secretary of UPFA.
The alliance was formed by:
- Sri Lanka Freedom PartySri Lanka Freedom PartyThe Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
(Sri Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya) - Janatha Vimukthi PeramunaJanatha Vimukthi PeramunaThe Janathā Vimukthi Peramuṇa is a Marxist-Leninist, Communist political party in Sri Lanka. The party was involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987-89...
- Sri Lanka Mahajana PakshayaSri Lanka Mahajana PakshayaThe Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya is a political party in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1984 by Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Was led by Chandrika Kumaratunga 1985-1990....
- Muslim National Unity AllianceMuslim National Unity AllianceThe Muslim National Unity Alliance was a left-wing political party in Sri Lanka.At the legislative elections, 2 April 2004, the party was part of the United People's Freedom Alliance that won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats. The party operated on a platform of Islamic socialism...
- Mahajana Eksath PeramunaMahajana Eksath PeramunaThe Mahajana Eksath Peramuna is a left-wing political party in Sri Lanka. Today the party is led by Dinesh Gunawardena, son of Philip Gunawardena....
- Democratic United National FrontDemocratic United National FrontThe Democratic United National Front is a political party in Sri Lanka.At the last legislative elections, held on 2 April 2004, the party was part of the United People's Freedom Alliance that won 45.6 % of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats....
- Desha Vimukthi Janatha Party
History
At a later stage ahead of the 2004 elections, the Communist Party of Sri LankaCommunist Party of Sri Lanka
The Communist Party of Sri Lanka is a communist political party in Sri Lanka. At the last legislative elections, on 2 April 2004, the party was part of the United People's Freedom Alliance that won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats....
and the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Lanka Sama Samaja Party
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is a Trotskyist political party in Sri Lanka....
signed a memorandum of understanding with UPFA, so that CIC and LSSP candidates would take part in elections of the UNP symbol.
At the last legislative elections
Elections in Sri Lanka
Elections in Sri Lanka gives information on election and election results in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a six year term by the people...
, 2 April 2004, the alliance won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats.
In April 2005, a key coalition party, JVP, left the alliance, causing the government headed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga to become a minority government in the Sri Lankan parliament.
In the Sri Lankan presidential election, 2005
Sri Lankan presidential election, 2005
The Sri Lankan presidential election of 2005 was the fifth presidential election of Sri Lanka. Nominations were accepted on 7 September 2005, and the election was held on 17 November 2005. Electoral participation was 73.73%...
, its candidate, Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Percy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
, came first with 50.29% of the vote. Again in the Sri Lankan presidential election, 2010
Sri Lankan presidential election, 2010
The Sri Lankan presidential election of 2010 was the sixth presidential election of Sri Lanka. The election was announced on 23 November 2009 when incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to seek a fresh mandate prior to the expiration of his term in 2011...
, Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Percy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
won the election obtaining 57.88% of the vote for his second term of presidency. However his main rival at the election, Sarath Fonseka
Sarath Fonseka
Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka, known as Sarath Fonseka is a former commander and General of the Sri Lanka Army and a former candidate for President of Sri Lanka. As Commander of the Army, he played an instrumental role in ending the 26 year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, defeating the...
denied the result accusing the government of carrying out an unacceptable media campaign against him using the state media and manipulating the result and vowed going to court. But the government denied such allegations and imprisoned him on charges of treason and sedition.