- Ceylonese parliamentary election, 1970
-
7th Ceylonese parliamentary election 1965 ← 27 May 1970 → 1977 151 seats to the House of Representatives of Ceylon
76 seats were needed for a majorityFirst party Second party Third party Leader Sirimavo Bandaranaike N. M. Perera Dudley Senanayake Party Sri Lanka Freedom Party Lanka Sama Samaja Party United National Party Leader's seat Attanagalla Yatiyantota Dedigama Last election 41 10 66 Seats won 91 19 17 Seat change +50 +9 -49 Popular vote 1,839,979 433,224 1,892,525 Percentage 36.86% 8.68% 37.91%
Prime Minister before election
Prime Minister-designate
General elections were held in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1970.
Background
SLFP leader Sirimavo Bandaranaike had come to the conclusion that her party's best hope of power was forming a permanent alliance with Ceylon's Marxist parties. She assembled the SLFP, the Trotskyist LSSP, and the Communists into the United Front coalition. The UF's platform was called the Common Programme; it featured extensive nationalization, a more pro-Soviet foreign policy, expanded social programs, and abolition of the Soulbury constitution.
The UNP government of Dudley Senanayake had not made much headway with Ceylon's twin problems of inflation and unemployment. The UNP had become widely perceived as a party of the rich, out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people. The UF's socialist platform had much greater appeal.
Results
The UF (with 49% of the vote) won an overwhelming majority, despite the UNP's plurality of the popular vote, due to the member parties running in different constituencies. The Tamil majority constituencies voted mainly for the two Tamil parties, one of which (the All Ceylon Tamil Congress), later joined the UF.[citation needed]
The 1970 election was the last held under the Soulbury constitution. The UF Government established the free, sovereign and independent Republic of Sri Lanka in 1972, breaking the last ties of colonialism.
The British-owned plantations were nationalised and there was land reform - giving poor rural people land. Industrial democracy was instituted in the transport and manufacturing sectors. A National pharmaceuticals policy was established, allowing for affordable drugs. A new education policy was followed, aimed at making education more relevant.
Increased protection led to growth in the manufacturing sector, particularly in textiles and garments, electronics and industrial machinery.
Summary of the 1970 Ceylonese parliamentary election Party Candidates Votes % Seats Sri Lanka Freedom Party 108 1,839,979 36.86 91 Lanka Sama Samaja Party 23 433,224 8.68 19 United National Party 130 1,892,525 37.91 17 Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi 19 245,727 4.92 13 Communist Party of Ceylon 9 169,199 3.39 6 All Ceylon Tamil Congress 12 115,567 2.32 3 Mahajana Eksath Peramuna 4 46,571 0.93 0 Others 136 249,006 4.99 2 Valid Votes 441 4,991,798 100.00 151 Rejected Votes Total Votes Polled Total Electors Polled1 Registered Electors 5,505,028 Turnout2 Source: Sri Lanka Statistics
1. Total electors polled is less than total votes polled due to
multiple-member seats where electors can cast more than one vote.
2. Actual turnout was slightly higher due Welimada Electoral District which was
uncontested and returned R. M. Bandara (SLFP).References
- "Result of Parliamentary General Election 1970". Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pdf/Results_1970%20GENERAL%20ELECTION.PDF.
- "1970 General Election Results". LankaNewspapers.com. http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/election/general_election1970.jsp.
- "Table 37 Parliament Election (1970)". Sri Lanka Statistics. 10 February 2009. http://www.jpp.co.jp/lanka/gov/govd/govde/gov37e.htm.
- "Sri Lanka Parliamentary Chamber: Parliament Elections Held in 1970". Inter-Parliamentary Union. http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/CEYLON_1970_E.PDF.
- Rajasingham, K. T. (5 January 2002). "Chapter 21: A further lack of perspicuity". Sri Lanka: The Untold Story. Asia Times. http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DA05Df05.html.
Presidential elections Parliamentary elections Referendums 1982Provincial elections 1988 · 1993 · 1994 · 1999 · 2004 · 2008–09Local elections 1977 · 1981 · 1983 · 1991 · 1994 · 1997 · 1998 · 2002 · 2003 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011Categories:- 1970 elections in Asia
- Ceylonese General Election 1970
- Elections in Sri Lanka
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.