News

News

SRL survey
In a separate opinion poll conducted by Survey Research Lanka (SRL) -- also made available to The Sunday Times -- the UPFA has a 7.9 per cent lead over the UNF in total votes, and that the UPFA will win 10 districts to the UNF's six with three districts - Ratnapura, Kurunegala and Digamadulla - "too close to call" and can go either way. The three remaining districts - Jaffna, Wanni and Batticaloa -- will go to the TNA. The poll indicated a near 6% vote for the JHU and about the same number backed the TNA. Others are listed at 5.9% while 2% were in the ‘can’t say’ group.

The three-stage random sample conducted by SRL is for the period March 18-22 and covered 2,808 adults over 19 years of age. The SRL poll shows that in answer to the question of how best they would describe the performance of the UNF during the past two years, the combined Good and Very Good totalled 33 per cent to the Bad and Very Bad of 28 per cent. Neither Bad nor Good scored 38 per cent.

In another poll, 38 per cent also thought there was no difference between the UNF Government and the last PA Government, and the margin of those who felt the UNF Government was better than the UPFA Government was 4 per cent.

The poll indicated a healthy near 6 per cent vote for the Buddhist monks-led JHU, while about the same number backed the TNA. About 3.5 per cent is marked for others -- meaning the SLMC, the CWC, the NUA, etc -- and 2 percent as "can't say".

Opinion polls: Sure fix scenario for a hung Parliament
The latest Org-Marg-Smart Opinion Poll concluded on Friday (March 26) shows a marginal lead of 7 per cent for the UPFA in the South, and a lead of 15 per cent in favour of the UNF over the UPFA and a 34 per cent lead for the TNA in the North and East - a sure fix scenario for a hung Parliament at the April 2 elections according to current trends.

Under such statistics, no one coalition will obtain an outright majority (113 seats), and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) appears to be forging ahead with a projected number of as many as 9 seats. The UPFA (minus NUA) tally on these projections stands at 101 seats to the UNF's (minus the SLMC) 91 seats. The TNA is expected to win 13 seats but the pollsters caution that they concentrated on how the vote will go for the major parties.

The final wave findings also confirm Org-Marg-Smart's previous findings with "the NE issue" being given first priority by 31% of the people in the South followed by "the cost of living" getting 28%. The conclusion that both issues are equally important is further validated by the fact that when asked how far they agree with the statement, "There cannot be economic development without peace", 79% agreed.

It is seen that 64% of those in the NE and 34% of those in the South think that the "country in general is better off now, compared to two years ago". At the same time, while 37% state that their household income has decreased in the past two years, 63% state that it has increased or remained the same.

With respect to job creation, while only 10% of the families have found new employment during the six-year PA regime, 5% have already found employment during the two-year UNF regime. The Sri Lankan voter in the South seems to be very optimistic about the future, with 49% saying that the country will get better in the next five years, while the voter in the North shows a significant amount of uncertainty about the future with 69% stating that they do not know what will happen to the country in the next five years.

In trying to gauge the approval for the UPFA's policies with respect to the economy and the peace process, during the last wave, the pollsters say they observed that the majority of the voters were unaware of the policies and hence were unable to give an opinion. Hence we covered this once again in this wave to gauge the approval levels.

It is seen that while a majority 56% approve of the UPFA's economic policies, majorities of 49% and 48% disapprove of its policy with regard to the peace process and solving the NE problem. There is no significant difference in the findings in this wave from our last wave, in the approval ratings for the performance of the government and with regard to who can handle which issue better.

second manifesto. But the sources said, a JVP delegation led by propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa had taken up the issue with President Chandrika Kumaratunga. They said the JVP had questioned the President on whether any policy decision was taken to revise the manifesto without consulting the JVP.

It complained of a lack of coordination among the stake holders in the UPFA and called for regular meetings of the steering committee. The Sunday Times last week exclusively reported the printing of the second manifesto and it is learnt some 200,000 copies were printed.

After government spokesman and senior minister G. L. Peiris brought up the issue at a news conference on Monday, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premjayanth and Alliance President Nandana Gunatillake issued a joint statement denying the UPFA had issued a new manifesto and charging that it was a UNP plant.

The Sunday Times learns that Alliance leaders later ordered party organizers to stop the distribution of the revised manifesto and to recall copies that were distributed. Alliance candidates for Kegalle district, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Colombo district Ratna Gamage admitted that there was a second manifesto. Mr. Gamage said he had received 50,000 copies for distribution.

Top

Back to News