The Manape : Amazing rise in popularity of some MPs
The preferential votes is an interesting feature in view of the astronomical rise in manape for only one party. The comparison of preferential votes in 2010 and 2015 highlights a surge in popularity and it is interesting to find out on what grounds they have become so popular amongst the masses.
Registered voters were 15,044,490 in 2015
Registered voters were 14,088,500 in 2010
Difference = 955,990 (additional voters by 2015 since 2010)
Highlighted in yellow are the astronomical rise of preferential votes from 2010 to 2015
| All UNP | 2010 manape | 2015 manape |
| Ranil Wickramasingha | 230,957 | 500,566 |
| Akila Viraj Kariyavasam | 66476 | 286,755 |
| Ranjan Ramanauyaka | 59318 | 216,463 |
| Harin Fernando | 49,073 | 200,806 |
| Lakshman Kiriella | 53,690 | 199,046 |
| Arjuna Ranatunga | 27,796 (DNA) | 165,890 (UNP) |
| Gayantha Karunatilake | 49,945 | 149,573 |
| Rajitha Senaratne | 66,710 (UPFA) | 142,186 (UNP) |
| Ajith Perera | 48,588 | 131,383 |
| Sujeewa Senasinghe | 52,559 | 117,049 |
| P Harison | 24,675 | 113,346 |
| Sajith Premadasa | 74467 | 112,645 |
| Rauff Hakeem | 54,047 | 102,186 |
| John Amarathunga | 52331 | 83,070 |
| Buddhika Pathirana | 62,499 | 98,815 |
| Mangala Samaraweera | 59,836 | 96,092 |
Notice the marginal changes
| 2010 manape | 2015 manape | |
| Wimal Weerawansa | 280,672 | 313,801 |
| Dayasiri Jayasekera | 132,949 (UNP) | 133,532 (UPFA) |
| Rishard Bathurdeen | 27,461 | 26,291 |
| Vijayakal Maheswaran | 7160 | 13,071 |
Note: Both Rishard & Vijayakala have been peddling divisive and separatist ideology throughout but the lack of support shows that the people do not care for such and questions why media gives them undue media space to project a different version to the masses. The media has a bigger role to play than playing politics themselves. Even Sambanthan the TNA leader has received just 33,834 votes which again shows that the Tamil people do not view him or the TNA as their leaders.
The other surprise exit of course is Field Marshal Gen. Sarath Fonseka together with his family who contested under the Democratic Party. He obtained 98,456 votes at the 2010 General Elections but has not been able to even secure a seat in the 2015 Parliament.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe’s 500,566 votes from a total Colombo district vote of 640,743. 78% gave one preference to Ranil Wickremasinghe.
However, former President Mahinda Rajapakse who received 423,529 votes from 474,124 votes claims the highest percentage of preference with 89%.
Looking back what is also interesting is that President Maithripala Sirisena received only 90,118 votes in the 2010 General Elections but as Presidential Candidate in 2015 January he received 62lakhs of votes.
Looking at the 2015 preferential votes against the 2010 it is interesting to know on what grounds the popularity of those highlighted have suddenly soared.
Shenali D Waduge
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