COLOMBO Sri Lanka's ruling People's Alliance on Wednesday narrowly won five regional polls that tested its support ahead of national elections due next year. Election officials said the ruling party had won 120 of 263 seats up for grabs in the northcentral, central, western, Uva and Sabaragamuwa provincial councils. Under Sri Lanka's convoluted proportional representation electoral system, the ruling coalition was also granted 10 bonus seats on the basis of the percentage of votes it polled.

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) took 112 seats, the left-wing People's Liberation Front 15 while the rest went to smaller parties. Political analysts said the ruling coalition's victory margin in most councils was so thin that it would be forced to enter into alliances with other parties to form administrations. (Reuter)