|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 27 June 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Politics |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
PS elections campaign in sombre note by Deepal Warnakulasuriya With only 12 days to go for the `mini general election,' there is not much enthusiasm displayed among the voters. Politicians seem to prefer "pocket" meetings instead of massive gatherings. The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) launched its campaign in Anuradhapaura last week with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse in the lead. Alliance party leaders also participated at the meeting. United National Party also went ahead with its campaign last week in Kandy with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. He also met the Polonnaruwa district party organisers and candidates the following day (June 20). Almost all other parties contesting the elections said that they too prefer pocket meetings to encourage their candidates and educate the voters. The Jathika Hela Urumaya has refrained from contesting Provincial Councils and has urged the public not to vote. However, a party spokesman said that they would be contesting the Pradeshiya Sabha elections. The Provincial Council Elections for six provinces (Western, North-Central, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Central) will be held on July 10 and the postal voting closed on June 23 and 24 for over 125,000 officers who will be on election duty. However, a spokesman of the Department of Elections said that the time frame for postal voting was extended to give more time to cast their votes but the turn out was not satisfactory. Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has announced that the campaign should end on July 7 midnight; 48 hours before the polling and no posters, banners or placards will be allowed in public places. He also said that Rs. nine million would be spent to remove such unauthorised materials and more than 1000 persons will be deployed by the police under the directive of the Elections Commissioner for the purpose. A senior official attached to the Police Election Secretariat said that necessary Police personnel will be deployed at all Divisional Secretariats where the PC Election is to be held to maintain law and order. Fourteen political parties and four independent groups had submitted their nominations for the Western Province while eight political parties and three independent groups had submitted nominations for the North Central province. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
