Ample security in Batticaloa for free and fair election:

Re-establishing democracy in East vital

by Ananda Kannangara

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DIG (Elections) H.M.D.Herath said that Police had deployed ample security in the whole Batticaloa area to conduct a free and fair election tomorrow.

"Our aim is to provide security not only to candidates and voters but also to ordinary people,"

The DIG also said that Police in collaboration with the security forces had laid out a comprehensive security plan in the whole district to enable voters to cast vote without any hindrance.

Prem Nithyanandan of Batticaloa and presently living in Bambalapitiya said the Government and the security forces created a conducive atmosphere in the Batticaloa District after two decades.

"I will definitely go to cast my vote on Monday as the current situation which I heard from my son from Batticaloa has immensely helped the Government to conduct the Local Government election after 14 years".

He also said that conducting an election at Batticaloa which at one time became a war torn area, will open the eyes of the international community.

Dr. (Mrs) Kuma Shanmugadasan of Peliyagoda said, "the current situation in the district is thousand times better than during the last fifteen years".

She therefore, thanked the Government to conduct elections even after 14 years to enable people to elect their representatives.

She further said "Although I would not go to cast my vote, but my relations are anxiously waiting until tomorrow".

Retired commanding officer in the Sri Lanka Navy, Nimalasiri Basnayaka said "I think the environment in the Batticaloa District is not suitable for conducting an election, therefore I appeal to the Election Commissioner to discuss with higher authorities and postpone the election until the area is liberated fully".

Accountant in a mercantile establishment, Gihan Senreviratne said that the TMVP would definitely win the election but asked not to be overjoyed with the election results because the majority people in the District was unhappy over the lack of infrastructure facilities.

He asked the President to direct whoever candidates elected to the local bodies tomorrow to focus much attention towards the constructing roads and renovating the main hospital, the schools and other public offices.

Ex. banker Rani Sellahewa thanked the President to create a peaceful situation to a greater extent in the Batticaloa district after two decades and appealed to him and other Government Ministers to make visits in the East to look into the needs of people.

"However, I must tell that an everlasting peaceful atmosphere cannot be set up in the district as the law breakers are still active and making sporadic attacks on security forces as well as on ordinary citizens". She also said that she would go to cast her vote at the tomorrow election.

Vice Principal of a school in Batticaloa, Devika Ratnasabapathi reminded the Government that majority people in her area living in misery due to the war situation in the past and said that holding an election was not enough as it cannot be fulfilled the aspirations of people.

Businessman Vinayagamoorthi Pakkiyanadan of Koralaipattu, Vakarai thanked the security forces for the invaluable job they did and liberated the area from illegal armed groups.

"I appeal to the authorities to focus attention on the development in the area after the election, since people lost everything including their houses and agricultural lands due to the war".

Finance Director in a Colombo based Singaporean Forwarding Company, Kumudumali Wanigasekara said "To my mind, an election can be held with tight security, but, no fair results can be obtained as long as powerful armed groups dominate the area".

Former Executive of the Government Agent's office in Batticaloa, Veluappa Mahesan thanked the Government for holding the Local Polls after 14 years said: "As a resident in the District, I would like to say that there was a better atmosphere to hold an election, therefore I appeal the Government to go ahead with the election".

Private sector employee, Manjula Jayasinghe of Panadura said that according to the security reports the entire Batticaloa District is liberated by the Government forces and therefore it is the duty of the Government to conduct elections.

"Whoever wins the tomorrow election, democracy is ruling the area and not the dictatorship".

Mercantile employee, Shakila Gamage thanked the Government for conducting the Local Government Election in the Batticaloa District after a long lapse. She said this will be another landmark to expose the world that the liberation of people and end of the decade long war.

Executive in a private company, Yamuna Erandathi Mahanama of Homagama said: "I wish the people in the area will once again become the partners of democracy". Hotelier, Kusumsiri Seneviratne of Mt. Lavinia said: "I request the authorities to visit Batticaloa and look into the welfare facilities of people,".

He also appealed the Government to grant bank loans to people in the district to enable them to construct their damaged houses and business premises.

Dharmasiri Ananda of Kaduwela said that conducting a Local Government Election in Batticaloa is welcomed not only by the local community but also the international community.

"The Government too has responsibilities after the election. It is to provide infrastructure facilities for all citizens especially the displaced people who returned to their homes".