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| Sunday, 22 February 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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UPFA, UNF, JHU pledge Peace, development, an evil - free regime by Deepal Warnakulasuriya The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) will offer peace and development through a strong local economy policy, while the United National Front government will offer a people-friendly government and the Sihala Urumaya contesting under the banner of `Jathika Hela Urumaya' a `Dharma Rajya' (an evil free regime), as their election pledges, as campaigning gets under way this week. A spokesman for the new Alliance said that their election manifesto, scheduled for release shortly will be a new experience for the political parties. He said that it would not make cheap promises to tease the public, but, would clarify how the country should be developed and the national problem solved. The Alliance Secretary Susil Premjayanth said that the UPFA will begin its propaganda campaign on February 26, from the historical city of Anuradhapura. He said that the Alliance manifesto would explain to the public a number of long-term and short term development projects. "It would mainly create new employment opportunities for graduates, A/L qualified youth and thousands of others. It will also bring more subsidies for farmers, the fishers sector and local industries providing infrastructure facilities as short-term projects", he said. He also said that its manifesto would explain how corruption and waste could be prevented in the public sector and other sectors. He added that they were still working on their manifesto and that it would be released a week after nominations close. UNF Spokesman, former MP Gayantha Karunathilake said that they too have not finalised their manifesto but it would focus on the work of the past two years and that it would be a blend of the 2001 manifesto, which was not completely implemented and new development projects. The former MP also said the Prime Minister has vetoed making unrealistic statements and pronouncements under false pretences to garner votes. He said that the PM had also instructed them not to lie to the public and not to create hopes among the public on short-term gains. "We have made arrangements to announce our policies and strategies of winning the elections at our Party Convention on Sunday, February 22. We will be working for a people-friendly government", he added. He further said that over 100 islandwide public rallies will be addressed by the Prime Minister and a number of plans will be implemented on their propaganda campaign. Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera speaking for the JHU said that their campaign was not aimed at securing portfolios but to safeguard the country. He said that they were not a political party and hence would not be making promises to tease the general public. "However, our only promise is our effort to bring about a society where all communities can live happily as preached by the Lord Buddha", Medhananda Thera said. He also said that no election meetings or rallies will be organised by the JHU, but some sort of announcements will be made every now and then. "We don't want to behave like other party candidates but will lay a solid foundation to change this political arena full of corruption and waste", Ven. Medhananda Thera added. Meanwhile, JHU spokesman said that they have also planned to release a manifesto on what they have planned to do after April 2. He also believed that the former SU leadership and the membership would engage in the propaganda campaign for them. |
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