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PRESIDENTIA
E| ΕΟ ONS
SocANDICATOR CENTR
 
 

EOR POLICY ALTERNATIVES

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T
he Presidential Elections 2005 is a crucial event for all Sri Lankans.
In this context, Social Indicator, the survey research unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives has conducted a pre-election opinion poll to understand Lankan voter behaviour on the eve of this election.The objective of the study is not to predict ‘the winner’ or ‘the loser’ in the race, but rather to unearth actual Sri Lankan voter perceptions, aspirations and attitudes and thereby contribute to the current political discourse.
This survey was conducted among 1200 randomly selected respondents in 22 Districts across the country in areas controlled by the Sri Lankan Government.
© Social Indicator - November 2005
Introduction
The Distr are comp noted tha of Tamils Indicator the Tami prevailed
A structu the face- research both ge collectio poll took 2005. Th error ma survey is Centre fo

T
ucial event
ey research atives has understand e of this t to predict ut rather to rceptions, ntribute to
0 randomly across the Sri Lankan
oduction
The Districts of Mullaitivu, Killinochchi and Mannar are completely excluded in this survey. It should be noted that the survey does not represent the opinion of Tamils in the District of Trincomalee as Social Indicator was unable to conduct field work among the Tamil community due to the tense situation that prevailed at that time.
A structured questionnaire was administered using the face-to-face interviewing technique and 45 field researchers comprising of three communities of both genders were involved in the field data collection process. Data collection for the opinion poll took place during the period of October 19-22, 2005. The findings of the survey are subject to an error margin of +/-3% at the national level.This survey is entirely self-funded by The Social Indicator- Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Page 1 of 17 Pages

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© Social Indicator - November 2005

Page 2 of 17 Pages

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Voter Attitudes: 2005
I
n there the 2005 are 13 Presidential candidates of Election which two of whom are considered to be
Undecided Voters Want to Reveal th the major contenders. The survey reveals that there is a close race between them. Hence, this report
27
will focus only on these two candidates. However, it should be noted that, 15.2% voters are undecided as to their choice of candidate while 10% are not ready to reveal their choice. Figure 2 reveals the extent to which the April 2004 General Election vote according to party affiliation will be translated into votes at the 2005 Presidential Election. In the
0 case of the two main candidates and their respective parties, an equal percentage (7%) of voters choose the opposing candidate.
7
Fig 1: Undecid who do no their cand 30
25
20
%
15
10
5
Sinhala
Fig 2: 2005 Voter Preferen General Elections party pro
100 90
82
84
80 70
%
60 50 40 30
36
36
27
20 10
11
7
9
0
UNP UPFA JHU
© Social Indicator - November 2005

r Attitudes: 2005
Undecided Fig 1: Undecided Voters and Voters voters Who and Do voters
Not Want to who Reveal do their not Candidate want to reveal
- Ethnicity their candidate - Ethnicity
27
28
23
12
Sinhala Tamil Muslim UC Tamil
2005 Voter Preferences by 2004 l Elections party profile of voters
87
45
27
13
18
Mahinda
Ranil
36
36
36 Undecided or No Response
JHU TNA SLMC
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Page 5
d
UC Tamil
Muslim
Tamil
Sinhala
Mean - 100 pts scale
© Social Indicator - November 2005
Qualities and Characteristics Req Presidency V
oters the country want the to leader of posses a
Fig 3: Characteristics Characteristic
o
set of multiple qualities and characteristics. However,
Experience
different social groups place differing degrees of
Leadership
importance on specific characteristics. In the
Honesty
survey, we asked respondents the degree of
Religion
8.2
importance they place on ‘education’, ‘family
Ethnicity
6.7
background’, ‘ethnicity’,
Family Backgroung
4.6 ‘religion’, ‘honesty’, ‘leadership’ and
Education ‘experience’ of the candidate.
0 10
Fig 4: Characteristics of the Candi
31.6
0.1 0.4
4.3
35.0
0.5
2.0
4.1
39.0
45.3
45.7
47.6
4.5
7.3
10.0
32.1
1.2
37.5
41.2
42.7
5.4
9.3
47.7
40.1
45.2
49.0
0 10 20 30 40 50

nd Characteristics Required for
Fig 3: Characteristics Characteristics of the of Candidate
the Candidate
ience
39.9
rship
nesty
ligion
8.2
nicity
6.7
oung d
4.6
ation
39.1
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Mean - 100 pts scale
teristics of the Candidate - Ethnicity
39.0
70.5
40.1
57.5
35.0
45.3
45.7
47.6
45.2
49.0
40 50 60 70 80 an - 100 pts scale
Experience
1
Leadership
37.5
41.2
42.7
Honesty Religion Ethnicity Family Background 47.7
Education
Page 4 of 17 Pages
46.0
48.7

Page 6
© Social Indicator - November 2005
Fig 5: Characteristics of the Candidate
37.2
Urban
4.2
5.1
8.3
Rural
8.7 6.9 4.2
38.1
0 10 20 30 40
Mean - 100 pts scale
Fig 6: Characteristics of the Candi
Female
7.8 6.2 5.4
39
39
Male
8.6 7.2 3.7
39
0 10 20 30 40
Mean - 100 pts scale

stics of the Candidate - Urban / Rural
37.2
30 40 50 60 Mean - 100 pts scale
teristics of the Candidate - Gender
39.1
45.8 40.1
47.7
40.2
46.0
49.7
38.1
40.5
30 40 50 60
Mean - 100 pts scale
45.9
39.3
47.4
Experience
Leadership
Honesty
39.0
Religion
Ethnicity
46.0
Family Background 50.1
Education
Page 5 of 17 Pages
Experience
Leadership
Honesty
Religion
Ethnicity
Family Background
Education

Page 7
Not decided or No Response
Mean - 100 pts scale
People were asked to indicate the degree of importance they place on each of the above characteristics on a 100 point scale. The survey found that in general, voters place ‘honesty’ (48.7 points) as the most important characteristics, followed by ‘leadership’ (45.9 points), ‘experience’ (39.9 points) and ‘education’(39.1 points). It is interesting to note however, that there’s a divergence of these rankings based on the ethnicity of voters. Sinhala and Muslim voters place the same order of importance by opting for the ‘Honesty’, ‘Experience’, ‘Leadership’, ‘Education’ pattern. In comparison, the Tamil voter places highest importance on “Education” followed by Honesty, Leadership and Experience. The
© Social Indicator - November 2005
Fig 7: Characteristics of the Candidate
they will vote for
3
9.7 8.9 1.9
Ranil
4.7
5.6 4.8
38.2
38.
Mahinda
10.7 6.3 6.4
39
0 10 20 30 40
Up Country Tamil voter howe chooses ‘Leadership’ as the m important characteristic follow by ‘Honesty’, ‘Educatio ‘Experience’ pattern.
The survey finds that the Rural Lankan places highest importa on ‘Honesty’ followed ‘Leadership’, ‘Experience’ a ‘Education’. In contrast, Urban Lankan places the high importance on ‘Educatio followed by ‘Leadershi ‘Honesty’ and ‘Experience’.
Voters below 36 yrs say ‘Hones is the most important quality. voters above 36 yrs, what matt most is ‘Leadership’.
When looking at the preferen of the voters who revealed

stics of the Candidate - Candidates they will vote for
39.7
39.1
30 40 50 60 an - 100 pts scale
44.3
38.6
44.5
41.4
41.4
45.8
47.2
48.2
52.5
38.2
ntry Tamil voter however, ‘Leadership’ as the most nt characteristic followed onesty’, ‘Education’, ence’ pattern.
vey finds that the Rural Sri places highest importance onesty’ followed by rship’, ‘Experience’ and ion’. In contrast, Urban Sri places the highest ance on ‘Education’, ed by ‘Leadership’,
y’ and ‘Experience’.
elow 36 yrs say ‘Honesty’ ost important quality. For bove 36 yrs, what matters ‘Leadership’.
ooking at the preferences voters who revealed the
identity of the candidate whom they will be voting for in the upcoming Presidential elections, the Mahinda voters say that leader should primarily be ‘Honest’, followed by ‘Leadership’, ‘Education’ and ‘Experience’. Ranil voters also say a leader should primarily be ‘Honest’, followed by ‘Leadership’, but differ with the order of the rest by choosing ‘Experience’ and ‘Education’ thereafter.
Voters who have decided to vote for Ranil place a slightly higher degree of importance on ‘Honesty’ (52.5 points) in comparison to Mahinda voters (48.2 points).
Page 6 of 17 Pages
Experience
Leadership
Honesty
Religion
Ethnicity
Family Background Education

Page 8
Who Handles Issues Best?
Fig 8: Best candidate to ha
Tsunami Reconstruction
Ability to protect my religion
Ability to safeguard the country
Ability to protect Sri Lankan culture
Preserving law and order of the country
I
rrespective Presidential of Elections who wins 2005, the
reconstruct Tsunami aff areas within a short per there are key issues that need to
time. On the other hand be addressed. Therefore, this
state that Mahinda is more c survey attempts to evaluate the
of preserving law and public opinion on each candidate’s
protecting Sri Lankan cu ability to handle the issues of the
safeguarding the countr Peace Process, Cost of Living
protecting one’s religion. (CoL), Unemployment, Preserveing Law and Order,
Interestingly, people extend Protecting Sri Lankan Culture,
confidence to Ranil and M Safeguarding the Country,
for their ability to r Protecting one’s Religion, and
unemployment while 17.2% b Reconstructing Tsunami affected
none of them would be a areas within a short period of
reduce the Unemployment. time.
From an ethnic perspe It is interesting that Sri Lankans
interestingly, the Si believe that Ranil is more capable
community places h of handling the Peace Process, able
confidence in Mahinda than to reduce Cost of Living and
in handling all the above
© Social Indicator - November 2005
Reducing unemployment
Reducing the cost of living
Handling of the peace process
43
38
42
39
41
41
41
45
0% 20% 40%

les Issues Best?
Best candidate to handle key issues
43
40
17
38
48
13
42
44
14
39
47
14
41
45
14
41
41
17
41
35
24
45
39
16
20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
nstruct Tsunami affected s within a short period of . On the other hand voters that Mahinda is more capable reserving law and order, ecting Sri Lankan culture, guarding the country, and ecting one’s religion.
restingly, people extend equal idence to Ranil and Mahinda their ability to reduce ployment while 17.2% believe of them would be able to ce the Unemployment.
m an ethnic perspective, restingly, the Sinhala munity places higher idence in Mahinda than Ranil andling all the above issues.
Analysed further, on issues that Ranil leads nationally, Mahinda leads by above 10 percentage points within the Sinhala community while on issues that Mahinda himself leads nationally, Ranil falls behind by approximately 20 percentage points within the Sinhala community.
Voters from Tamil, Muslim and Up Country Tamil communities place a greater degree of trust in Ranil’s ability to handle above issues. While Tamil and Up Country Tamil communities overwhelmingly support Ranil on all issues, the Muslim community too places a greater degree of confidence in Ranil’s ability. In terms of the ability to protect one’s religion,
Page 7 of 17 Pages
Ranil
Mahinda
Neither Candidat e

Page 9
Fig 9: Best candidate to handle the P
NATIONAL
45.4
UC Tamil
95.8
Muslim
58.9
Tamil
82.4
Sinhala
37.0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Ranil Mahinda Neithe
Fig 10: Best candidate to handle the
32.7 NATIONAL
41.0
UC Tamil
93.8
Muslim
58.9
Tamil
76.1
Sinhala
40.7
0 10 20 30 40 50
Ranil Mahinda
© Social Indicator - November 2005

idate to handle the Peace Process
didate to handle the Cost of Living
15.8
17.6
40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Mahinda Neither Candidate
.1
38.7
95.8
11.0
45.3
31.5
9.6
82.4
6.6
35.1
23.9
93.8
6.3
26.0
15.1
9.1
14.8
40.7
26.6
40 50 60 70 80 90 100
il Mahinda Neither Candidate
Page 8 of 17 Pages
4.2

Page 10
Fig 11: Best candidate to handle U
NATIONAL
41.4
UC Tamil
93.8
Muslim
56.9
Tamil
66.3
Sinhala
34.5
0 10 20 30 40 50
Ranil Mahinda
Fig 12: Best candidate to Preserve La
32.3 NATIONAL
40.8
UC Tamil
93.8
Muslim
54.2
Tamil
82.1
Sinhala
0 10 20 30 40 50
Ranil Mahinda Neith
© Social Indicator - November 2005

andidate to handle Unemployment
didate to Preserve Law and Order
17.2
40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Mahinda Neither Candidate
82.1
41.4
93.8
31.9
25.3
46.3
19.2
45.2
14.0
93.8
6.3
52.8
14.8
40 50 60 70 80 90 100
nil Mahinda Neither Candidate
33.3
12.5
6.0
11.9
Page 9 of 17 Pages
6.3
11.1
8.4

Page 11
Fig 13: Best candidate to Protect Sri
NATIONAL
38.7
UC Tamil
93.8
Muslim
56.3
Tamil
77.8
Sinhala
30.2
54
0 10 20 30 40 50
Ranil Mahinda Neither
Fig 14: Best candidate to Safeguard
32.9 NATIONAL
41.8
UC Tamil
93.8
Muslim
56.9
Tamil
85.1
Sinhala
52
0 10 20 30 40 50
Ranil Mahinda Neithe
© Social Indicator - November 2005

didate to Protect Sri Lankan Culture
47.0
14.3
15.3
40 50 60 70 80 90 100
l Mahinda Neither Candidate
andidate to Safeguard the Country
85.1
93.8
54.5
6.3
32.4
11.3
.8
11.1
11.1
44.5
13.7
93.8
52.1
14.9
40 50 60 70 80 90 100
il Mahinda Neither Candidate
6.3
33.3
9.7
5.7
9.2
Page 10 of 17 Pages

Page 12
Fig 15: Best candidate to Protec
NATIONAL
38.2
UC Tamil
93.8
Muslim
47.2
Tamil
76.2
Sinhala
30.2
0 10 20 30 40 50
Ranil Mahinda
Muslim community places 16% more confidence in Ranil than Mahinda though they place more than a 20% higher confidence in Ranil’s ability on all other issues. It is interesting to see the variations in the confidence of men and women in the candidate’s ability to handle issues. More men place slightly higher confidence in Ranil’s ability to handle the peace process, reduce unemployment and safeguard the country. In contrast women place higher confidence on these issues in Mahinda than Ranil.
Though the Roman Ca community is only about 5% population, they cons members from both Sinha Tamil communities. Therefore the opinion of Catholics is not a reflect mere ‘ethnic group b thinking. By the time the fie for this survey was conc (October 22, 2005), the Catholic opinion was divid who can handle issues bette place their confidenc Mahinda’s ability on all
© Social Indicator - November 2005

t candidate to Protect ‘My Religion’
48.4
13.4
93.8
56.6
13.2
40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Ranil Mahinda Neither Candidate
ugh the Roman Catholic munity is only about 5% of the ulation, they consist of bers from both Sinhala and il communities. refore the opinion of Roman olics is not a reflection of e ‘ethnic group based’ king. By the time the fieldwork this survey was concluded ober 22, 2005), the Roman olic opinion was divided on can handle issues better. They e their confidence in inda’s ability on all issues
6.3
29.2
23.6
76.2
13.1
10.7
(except ability to reduce unemployment) including safeguarding their religion. Obviously, when it comes to trusting the candidates, Sri Lankans who have already decided on their choice of candidate (Mahinda Vs. Ranil), do not fail to overwhelmingly place their trust in their candidate of choice.
The voters who have ‘not decided’ on their choice of candidates and who simply did not wish to reveal their choice, believe more in
Page 11 of 17 Pages

Page 13
Ability Fig 16: Best candidate to Reconstruct to handle After the the T
Tsu
NATIONAL
43.1
UC Tamil
95.8
Muslim
54.2
Tamil
81.4
Sinhala
35.1
4
0 10 20 30 40 50
Ranil Mahinda Neithe
Ranil’s ability than Mahinda’s for handling the peace process, reducing the cost of living, and reconstruct the Tsunami affected areas within a short period of time. However, on the issues of preserving law and order, ability to protect Sri Lankan culture and ability to protect their religion, they place their confidence in Mahinda.
It is interesting to note that the opinion of the first time voters also follows the same pattern of the average Sri Lankan voter’s attitudes in terms of the candidates ability to handle issues.
© Social Indicator - November 2005

econstruct date to handle After the the Tsunami
Tsunami Reconstruction
39.8
17.0
95.8
30.6
81.4
46.2
18.7
40 50 60 70 80 90 100
il Mahinda Neither Candidate
Page 12 of 17 Pages
9.3
15.3
9.3
4.2

Page 14
Issues that matter most
Fig 17: What issues matter
No Specific Issue
7.9
Caste
0.3
Protect my religion
1.5
Preserve the culture
4.3
Solve the ethnic conflict
Control the cost of living
Friends support him
1.4
My family's party
11.2
My party
1
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0
F
or most 32.3% important Sri Lankan issue voters, when the
preserving the culture o society. The majority of the selecting their candidate is his
community (41.9%) an ability to control the cost of living.
Sinhala community (33.9% The survey also finds that one
decided to vote for the can fourth of the voters consider the
who will best control the c most important issues to be the
living. While a significant m ethnic conflict. 15.9% choose their
of the Tamil community c candidates on party allegiance,
their candidate based on his while 11.2% do so on family
to solve the ethnic confli tradition. Interestingly, 7.9% of the
Country Tamils give voters say that they will vote for a
importance to the ability to particular candidate but say that
the ethnic conflict and to c they cannot ‘think of a particular
the cost of living. Interestin reason for choosing him’.
Tamil voter appears to However, only 4.3% would vote for
candidate based purely o the person who is best in
voter’s own party loyalty.
© Social Indicator - November 2005

t matter most
What issues matter most to you?
7.9
15.9
10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0
%
erving the culture of our ty. The majority of the Muslim munity (41.9%) and the ala community (33.9%) have ded to vote for the candidate will best control the cost of g. While a significant majority he Tamil community choose r candidate based on his ability olve the ethnic conflict, Up ntry Tamils give equal ortance to the ability to solve ethnic conflict and to control cost of living. Interestingly, no il voter appears to pick a idate based purely on the r’s own party loyalty.
25.2
11.2
The issue of solving the ethnic conflict matters highly to the Tamil community while it is of least importance to the Sinhala community. 18.4% of the Sinhala community, 17.6% Up Country Tamil community and 5.4% Muslim community select their candidate based on party loyalty.
The differences in perception among Urban and Rural Sri Lankans emerge again when it comes to the candidates’ abilities on selected key issues. When comparing the criteria on which they would select their candidate
Page 13 of 17 Pages
32.3

Page 15
Fig 18: Issues considered when
the candidate - Ethnicity
2.0
UC Tamil
35.3
37.3
7.8
17.6
10.8
Muslim
2.7 2.7
29.7 1.4
5.4 5.4
0.4
1.6
4.8
19.3 1.6
12.4
0.0 20.0 40.0 6
Fig 19: Issues considered %
when the candidate - Gender
16.9
41.9
15.2
Tamil
1.0
1.0
3.8
7.6
7.7
Sinhala
33.9
18.4
Fig 19: Issues considered when c
the candidate - Gender
Female
0.7
12.3
14.9
Male
2.2
9.8
%
© Social Indicator - November 2005
10.4 0.2
1.7
6.1 0.5
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0
5.2
1.2
21.7
3.2

es considered when choosing candidate - Ethnicity
.3
41.9
71.4
0.0 60.0 80.0 es considered %
when choosing candidate - Gender
No Specific Reason
Caste
Protect my religion
Preserve the culture
Solve the ethnic conflict Control the cost of living Friends support him
My family's party
My party
s considered when choosing candidate - Gender
21.7
32.9
29.0
31.2
20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0
Page 14 of 17 Pages
No Specific Reason
Caste
Protect my religion
Preserve the culture
Solve the ethnic conflict Control the cost of living Friends support him
My family's party
My party

Page 16
Above 66 yrs
%
in the coming election, 45.3% of Urban voters decide based on the candidate’s ability to solve the ethnic conflict while 21.4% decide based on the candidate’s ability to control the cost of living. A majority of Rural voters (33.3%) assess the candidates’ ability to control the cost of living while 22.2% decide on the ability to solve the ethnic conflict. More Rural than Urban voters decide based on their party loyalty or the party loyalty of their family. Although only a small percentage of Sri Lankan voters decide their
© Social Indicator - November 2005
56 - 65 yrs
46 - 55 yrs
36 - 45 yrs
26 - 35yrs
18 -25 yrs
Fig 20: Issues considered when choosing
6.9 6.9
27.
1.5
2.3 2.3
13.8
21.5 13.1
16.2
2.0
5.1
5.1
22.9 7.5
20.9
0.4
1.8
4.3
7.5
3.6
12.8
23.8
26.3
19.6
0.3 0.3
2.4
8.6
0.7
12.3 12.7 8.8 2.2
7.7 1.1
6.6 6.6
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0
candidate based on his ab preserve the culture, this o is higher with Rural voter Urban. The voters who c their candidate on his abi protect their religion i among Urban (4.3%) constitu than Rural (1.1%) despite small percentage choosin option at the national level
Priorities generally differ age groups.
Majority of every age decides on the ability to c the cost of living when ch

idered when choosing the candidate - Age
19.6
27.6 27.6
31.0
21.5
29.2
30.8
36.3
20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0
No Specific Reason
Caste
20.9
22.9
36.4
Protect my religion
Preserve the culture
23.8
26.3
Solve the ethnic conflict
Control the cost of living
29.5
33.2
Friends support him
My family's party
My party
%
idate based on his ability to erve the culture, this opinion igher with Rural voters than an. The voters who choose r candidate on his ability to tect their religion is high ng Urban (4.3%) constituencies Rural (1.1%) despite a very ll percentage choosing this on at the national level.
rities generally differ across
groups.
ority of every age group des on the ability to control cost of living when choosing
the candidate. This pattern appears consistent across all age categories. The ability to solve the ethnic conflict seems to be the second highest reason for deciding on a candidate when it comes to all age groups below 65. However, this declines as the age of the voter advances. As the age of voters advances, they prefer to choose the candidate based on their party loyalty or party loyalty of the family. When looking at the preferences of the first time voter, 36% decide on the candidate based on his
Page 15 of 17 Pages

Page 17
ability to control the cost of living. 32.4% deicide their candidate on his ability to solve the ethnic conflict. Further, 10.3% and 7.4% say that their decision is based on one’s party loyalty or party loyalty of the family. Exactly one third of the voters who decided to vote for Mahinda will vote for him due to his ability to control the cost of living. Of the voters who decided to vote for Ranil, 30.3% would do
© Social Indicator - November 2005
Fig 21: Issues considered when c
the candidate - Candidate of Ch
Not decided and No
0.3
1.4
2.8
19.7
Response
0.5
1.7
3.5
21.2
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0
%
23.5 1.0
9.7
30.
8.0
20.5 0.2
7.6
4.3
Ranil
0.5
2.6
31 2.8
12.3
11.1
16.1
Mahinda
so due to his ability in control the cost of living. Close to one th of voters who decided to vote Ranil do so due to his ability solve the ethnic conflict, wher only 20.5% of the voters w decided to vote for Mahinda h chosen him for the same reas It is interesting to note t people who say that they have made up their mind on the cho of candidate indicate that t

es considered when choosing idate - Candidate of Choice
19.7
21.2
20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0
%
23.5
33.9
20.5
30.3
31.0
33.3
to his ability in controlling of living. Close to one third rs who decided to vote for o so due to his ability to e ethnic conflict, whereas 0.5% of the voters who to vote for Mahinda have him for the same reason. teresting to note that who say that they have not p their mind on the choice idate indicate that they
would vote for the candidate mainly due to the ability to control the cost of living (33%), or solve the ethnic conflict (23.5%). However, of the undecided voters and voters who are unwilling to reveal the candidate of choice, 19.7% say that they cannot ‘think of a particular reason.
No Specific Reason
Caste
Protect my religion
Preserve the culture
Solve the ethnic conflict
Control the cost of living
Friends support him
My family's party
My party
Page 16 of 17 Pages

Page 18
Confidence in Manifestoes
Fig 22: Confidence given Confidence Given in in manifestoes
in Manifestoe in the the Prom
pro
50
40
39
36
30
24
27
20
17
15
15
6
7
0
Ranil Mahinda
V awareness oters were of 10
asked of their
people who are aware, 52. the manifestoes
that they are knowledgea of the two main candidates, and
Ranil’s manifesto and 54. to what extent they are aware of
they are knowledgeab the content and the degree of
Mahinda’s. Of those who are confidence they have in the
of the manifestoes, 41% promises given in the
confidence in the promises manifestoes. 71% of the voters are
in Mr. Ranil Wickramasi aware that the two main
manifesto while 51% candidates have put forward their
confidence in promises m election manifestoes. Of the
Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksha’s.
© Social Indicator - November 2005

e in Manifestoes
nfidence Given iven onfidence in in manifestoes
in Manifestoes
in the the Promises promises
36
27
15
7
le who are aware, 52.9% say they are knowledgeable of il’s manifesto and 54.3% say y are knowledgeable of inda’s. Of those who are aware he manifestoes, 41% have idence in the promises made r. Ranil Wickramasinghe’s ifesto while 51% have idence in promises made in Mahinda Rajapaksha’s.
15
Mahinda
Highly confident
Somewhat confident
Not confident
Refuse to answer
Don't Know
Page 17 of 17 Pages

Page 19
Social Indicator (SI) is an inde
which conducts polls on Socio
Operating under the Board of D
Policy Alternatives (CPA), SI Wa:
and filled a longstanding Vacuu
professional and independent p
social and political issues.
Polling is an instrument of empt
the silent majority of the public
opinions on issues affecting the
surveys on key social issues, the
which public opinion can influe
SOcial Indicator Centre for Policy Altı 105, 5th Lane, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka.
Maళ్యజ్ఞం Te: +9411 2370472
Fax. +9411 2370475
 

pendent social research organisation,
economic and political issues.
irectors of the Centre for
s established in September 1999,
m for a permanent,
olling facility in Sri Lanka on
owerment, a means by which
C can express their
m. Our mission is to conduct
areby providing a means through
nce the public policy debate.
ernatives
Email: Cpapoll(Odiamond.lanka.net
Web: http://www.cpalanka.org