Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa announced, short while ago, that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the party led by the Rajapaksa group, has gained a resounding victory at the Local Government polls.

Rajapaksa's statement came even before the Elections Commission issued official results of the election. Although the Commission earlier said that the first officials results would be released by 9.30 pm, the official results have still not been released to media.

"Thank you to the people of Hambantota and those around the country for this resounding victory for the #SriLanka Podujana Peramuna. The people have spoken their minds. They want change," Rajapaksa tweeted. 

Rajapaksa's statement came in the wake of unofficial election results coming from polling stations across the island, suggesting that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, formed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's group had taken an early lead in the Local Government election. 

Our political sources said the SLPJ is leading the election with an easy margin in several districts, including Matara, Galle, Hambantota, Matale and Gampaha. 

The UNP has so far taken lead in Nuwaraeliya and Colombo districts - areas considered as the party's strongholds.