Local Govt elections on Oct 8:

Broad dialogue between political parties, Commissioner

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The first meeting of political party secretaries with IGP N.K. Illangakoon will be held on September 1 at the Elections Secretariat, after nominations are handed over Elections Commissioner, Mahinda Deshappriya said.

He said that issues relating to the forthcoming Local Government elections on October 8, will be discussed at the meeting. The discussion between political parties and the Elections Department will assure a free and fair election. The General Secretaries of the relevant parties can discuss any issues at these meetings, the Elections Commissioner said. The main political parties, the UPFA and the UNP handed over their nomination papers on August 25.

The other political parties in the fray are the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Democratic People’s Front (DPF), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Janasetha Peramuna.Four-hundred-and twenty members will be elected to 17 Municipal Councils, five Pradeshiya Sabhas and one Urban Council at the forthcoming election. According to a spokesman for the Elections Department 21 political parties have fielded 6,508 candidates and 105 Independent groups for the election.

Former Cabinet Minister Milinda Moragoda will contest under the UPFA ticket for the Mayoral post while A.J.M. Muzammil and Sunil Watagala will contest under the UNP and the JVP.

Mano Ganeshan (DPF) and Shafeek Rajabdeen (SLMC) are the other candidates. Moragoda said that the past glory of the Colombo city will be restored under the UPFA government.

He called upon UPFA candidates to work with a sense of dedication and cooperation to ensure the UPFA victory.

Former Colombo Mayor, K. Ganeshalingam’s wife, Yamuna Ganeshalingam said that she had decided to contest the election on the UPFA ticket to serve all equally irrespective of differences. “I wish to continue my late husband’s good work,” she said.