United People's Freedom Alliance

United People's Freedom Alliance
එක්සත් ජනතා නිදහස් සන්ධානය
ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சுதந்திரக் கூட்டணி
Leader Maithripala Sirisena
Secretary-General Mahinda Amaraweera
Founded 20 January 2004
Headquarters 301, T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka.
Youth wing Nil Balakaya (Dissolved)
Ideology Democratic socialism
Political position Centre-left to left-wing
Parliament of Sri Lanka
95 / 225
Election symbol
Betel Leaf

The United People's Freedom Alliance is a political alliance in Sri Lanka founded under the leadership of Chandrika Kumaratunga in 2004. The current leader of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Amaraweera is the general secretary of UPFA. [1][2][3] [4] The alliance was initially formed by:

History

In 2004 the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna signed a memorandum of understanding, of their political future. At the time the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party, Desha vimukthi Jantha Pakshaya, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna and National congress signed that historic document against the UNP. At a later stage ahead of the 2004 elections, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka 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 UPFA symbol.

At the 2004 legislative elections, the alliance won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

In Opposition

In the Sri Lankan presidential election, 2015, its candidate, Mahinda Rajapaksa lost to common candidate Maithripala Sirisena. Rajapaksa manages only a 47.58% of the total votes cast. The UPFA lost its power in the parliament soon after the election. Sirisena was elected the leader of UPFA in March 2015. In September 2015 47 members out of 95 join the United National Party led national government while other led by Mahinda Rajapaksa remain in the opposition making split in the UPFA.

Political Parties currently in the Alliance

Leaders

General-Secretaries

Electoral History

Sri Lanka Parliamentary Elections
Election year Votes Vote % Seats won +/– Government
2004 4,223,970 45.60%
105 / 225
 Increase 105 Government
2010 4,846,388 60.33%
144 / 225
 Increase 39 Government
2015 4,732,664 42.38%
95 / 225
 Decrease 49 Government / Opposition [lower-alpha 1]
Sri Lanka Presidential Elections
Election year Candidate Votes Vote % Result
2005 Mahinda Rajapaksa 4,887,152 50.29% Won
2010 Mahinda Rajapaksa 6,015,934 57.88% Won
2015 Mahinda Rajapaksa 5,768,090 47.58% Lost [lower-alpha 2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Part of the Alliance joined the Government of National Unity led by the United National Party and the rest stayed in the opposition
  2. ↑ Even though Rajapaksa was defeated, the winner Sirisena was a member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and subsequently became the UPFA chairman

References

  1. ↑ "New blow for Sri Lankan peace pact". CNN News. January 20, 2004.
  2. ↑ IRIN Asia | Asia | Sri Lanka | SRI LANKA: Testing times ahead of local elections in east | Governance Conflict | Feature
  3. ↑ "Maithreepala Sirisena appointed the chairman for UPFA". Adaderana. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  4. ↑ http://www.adaderana.lk/news/34483/mahinda-amaraweera-appointed-upfa-general-secretary
  5. ↑ "President wins Sri Lanka election". BBC News. April 4, 2004.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "Sri Lanka poll victory challenged". BBC News. 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2010-05-26.


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