A keen tussle has suddenly emerged between the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna  (JVP) and the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) for the third place at the Local Government election 2018. 

Although official results are yet to be announced, reports coming from counting centers suggest that the JVP has beaten the SLFP to secure third place in a number of electorates. 

"If the current trend continues," political observers say, "this will be the worst election defeat suffered by the SLFP in its history." 

Sources at the counting centers in the Gampaha district indicate that the SLFP will not be able to secure the third place in the Attanagalle Pradeshiya Sabha, an area that is considered a traditional stronghold of the Bandaranaike family. Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is the SLFP Chief Organizer for Attanagalle. 

However, it is also believed that the SLFP-led UPFA will be able to secure the third place in the final results as the party contested for all districts and had the backing of the Executive President. 

President Maithripala Sirisena actively led the election campaign of the UPFA which contested the under the symbol 'betel leaf'.