United National Party Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva has stated that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna is attracting a reasonable crowd in the Uva Provicial Election campaign.

He said this through his Twitter handle last evening.

Dr. de Silva had Tweeted saying: "Ran in to Anura Kumara Dissanayake at Diyathalawa town. JVP had a reasonable crowd. They will eat it in to PA votes."

His comments are significant as Badulla District, where the town of Diyathalawa is located, is not a traditional stronghold of the JVP.

In the last Uva Provincial Elections held in 2009, JVP polled only 9,007 votes, which was a mere 2.36% of the total votes. Even the Upcountry People's Front, received more votes that the JVP. Both managed to win one seat each for the Provincial Council from the District.

In the last General Election in 2010, the JVP was part of the Democratic National Alliance. The DNA received 15,768 votes (4.51%) and did not win a parliamentary seat.