How a Draw of Lots Gave NPP Another Win

After a 17–17 deadlock in Dehiowita, a slip of paper crowned Samanasiri Weerasinghe chairman — and signaled the NPP’s rising local power.

In a packed hall at the Dehiowita Pradeshiya Sabha, tension hung thick in the air. Supporters held their breath. Two candidates—each with 17 votes—stood shoulder to shoulder, awaiting a verdict not from the electorate, but from chance itself.

Moments later, a slip of paper was drawn from a box. Written on it: Samanasiri Weerasinghe, the candidate representing the National People’s Power (NPP). Applause erupted. The NPP had secured another local government seat—not through majority, but by the slimmest, strangest margin democracy allows: a draw of lots.

It was a rare, if not poetic, finish to a closely contested chairman’s vote, and a symbolically potent victory for a party seeking to expand its grassroots foothold.

A Statistical Deadlock

The vote for chairman of the Dehiowita Pradeshiya Sabha ended in a 17–17 tie between NPP’s Weerasinghe and Damidu Shaminda of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). The deadlock, while numerically balanced, underscored a deep political divide in the region—one that mirrors the broader national landscape as traditional powerhouses face rising challenges from emerging political forces.

With no clear winner, officials turned to a little-known but entirely legal tie-breaking method embedded in Sri Lanka’s local government procedures: the drawing of lots.

“It’s unusual, but not unprecedented,” one election official said. “It’s part of the rules. When the people are equally split, sometimes it comes down to fate.”

Victory by Chance, Momentum by Strategy

For the NPP, the result may have hinged on luck—but the path to the tie was anything but accidental. Over recent months, the party has built a disciplined campaign across several local divisions, projecting itself as a clean, accountable alternative to the traditional political duopoly.

Weerasinghe, a long-time community organizer and advocate for rural development, ran on a platform that promised transparency, public service reform, and local empowerment.

“We may have won by a draw,” Weerasinghe said after taking his oath, “but our campaign was built on clear priorities and hard work. That’s what brought us to 17 votes. The draw just tipped the balance.”

SLPP Holds Ground, But Faces New Rivals

The SLPP, once dominant in the region, now finds itself locked in tighter and tighter races. Damidu Shaminda, the party’s candidate, ran a well-funded campaign with strong backing—but couldn’t pull ahead of a surging NPP.

Analysts suggest this tie—and its dramatic conclusion—could be a warning sign for the SLPP.

“This isn’t just a one-off,” said political analyst Ruwan Jayasekara. “We’re seeing a pattern where the NPP is matching or exceeding traditional parties in close races. Even when they don’t win outright, they’re establishing credibility and visibility.”

Democracy, Decided by a Folded Paper

For the people of Dehiowita, the scene may have seemed surreal: a major political leadership position decided not by speeches or manifestos, but by the drawing of a name. But in local government, procedure is paramount—and even the unusual is part of the process.

The NPP’s win, while unconventional, is official and final.

A Local Win, A National Signal

As the NPP racks up more local victories—some slim, others sweeping—the political calculus at the national level may start to shift. The draw in Dehiowita wasn’t just a lucky break; it was a confirmation of competitiveness, and a testament to the party’s growing grassroots presence.

For now, Samanasiri Weerasinghe steps into his role as chairman not just as a winner of a lot, but as the face of an increasingly relevant political movement. And for the voters who helped bring the race to a tie, the message is clear: every single vote—and sometimes, every folded paper—matters.