Three-cornered tussle in Wayamba as the West focuses on the North

It is time for all political parties to take stock of their performance at yesterday's elections to the Provincial Councils of the Northern, Central and the North-Western.

Though a total of 3,785 candidates contested for 142 seats in the three Provincial Councils, the three candidates who stole the limelight with a keen tussle for the top slot in the UPFA's list in Wayamba were former UNP parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera, ex-Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe and young Johan Fernando, son of Trade Minister Johnston Fernando.

Their campaigns were the most notable as the three-cornered tussle for the UPFA supremacy in the North Western Province caught attention of most media over the past few weeks. But their fate would only be known by this evening when the preferential votes in the Kurunegala district are announced.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa attended several main political rallies of the UPFA last week. The most notable among them was the rally at the Kuliyapitiya Esplanade. He called all 37 candidates contesting under the UPFA ticket. When they took time to appear on stage and hold hands to salute the people, he called them once more saying "These are our 37 chief ministers".

Holding Dayasiri's and Johan's hands, he advised the UPFA frontrunners to work together like brothers. "Sir, but I call him Dayasiri uncle because he always calls me Sudu Putha," Johan said.

But most Western media and Colombo-based diplomats representing certain Western countries showed an extraordinary interest over the elections to the Northern Provincial Council for which the elections were held for the first time.

Several experimental measures, including see-through ballot boxes in a selected division, were used by the Department of Elections at yesterday's PC polls. Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya said that ballot boxes from different villages and divisional secretariat areas were shuffled together for the first time at the counting of votes to ensure secrecy on how people in certain areas voted.

He said this action was taken for the first time in some polling divisions to ensure secrecy of voting patterns. The new system was experimented when counting the votes at the elections to the Northern Provincial Council and in some areas in the Central Province and the Puttalam District.

However, it was not practiced in the Kurunegala District as the decision to introduce this new system was decided after all arrangements were made in that district. The new system prevents determining the result of a particular village or a divisional secretariat area, as in the past. There were 21 special polling stations in Puttalam, two in Anuradhapura and one in Jaffna for the people displaced from North due to terrorism.

Once the Commissioner of Elections officially announces the preferential votes by this evening the names of the 56 members elected to the Central Provincial Council, 50 members elected to the North-Western Provincial Council and 36 members elected to the Northern Provincial Councils will be gazetted.

Meanwhile, a 45-year-old school teacher assigned for election duty at the Pudukulam Central College in Vavuniya was killed in a wasp attack while two other teachers were injured and admitted to Vavuniya Hospital on Friday.

The victim identified as Christurajah was in charge of the polling station and a resident of Anna Nagar and taught at the Madinar Nagar College in Vavuniya.

Ranil experiences Airport Expressway

Though most of the Opposition politicians have often criticised the Government's development work, especially the construction of expressways, Opposition Leader last week sought approval of the authorities to use the new Airport Expressway which is nearing completion.

Amidst his busy schedule during the Provincial Council election campaign of the UNP, Ranil wanted to attend a funeral and thought that he could cut short his travel time if he uses the new Airport Expressway which is scheduled to be opened by President Rajapaksa shortly. Hence, he made a formal request to the authorities and was immediately granted permission.

But even some of his close confidantes were seen criticising their leaders decision after a prominent UNP parliamentarian from the Ratnapura District, better known in the silver screen, was ejected by the security staff manning the Expressway.

The actor turned politician had gained unauthorised access to the Airport Expressway but was later turned off by the security staff.

He was not the only parliamentarian to experience such a fate for using the Airport Expressway in an unauthorised manner. Two UPFA parliamentarians too were ejected from the Airport Expressway on the same grounds. Though they had attempted to use their 'contacts' to prevent them being ejected, the security staff showed no mercy to strictly enforce the law.

The 26km Colombo-Katunayake Expressway begins from Peliyagoda. There are five interchange points in this six lane Expressway at the New Kelani Bridge, Peliyagoda, Kerawalapitiya connecting with the Outer Circular Highway, Ja-Ela and Katunayake.

Over Rs. 45 billion has been spent for the project so far under a loan facility extended by China. The Expressway has 42 bridges and 100 large culverts to ensure the smooth flow of traffic to reduce the travel time from the commercial capital to the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake up to 20 minutes.

Navi Pillay's third party reply to Ranil

On Friday, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he was awaiting a reply from UNHRC High Commisioner Navi Pillay to clear the air over allegations made by some officials that she wanted the statue of Sri Lanka's first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake and the Buddhist flag removed at Independence Square.

"We are awaiting a clarification regarding the news that she had requested the government to remove the D.S. Senanayake statue and the Buddhist flag located at Independence Square. We hope she would respond to our letter even after the next Geneva session," he was quoted as saying.

Speaking at a meeting held at Sedawatta Weheragodalla temple last week, the UNP leader said there were two reasons which prompted him to write to Pillay.

But political observers feel that it was an insult to the Opposition leader to get a reply via a third party. Pillay's spokesman, Rupert Colville, told reporters in Geneva yesterday that the UNHRC chief had only asked the president why the Buddhist flag was flying next to the national flag at Sri Lanka's Independence Square.

He said that Pillay had only said that she was concerned about "rising inter-communal tensions and incitement to violence on the basis of religion in Sri Lanka.

"She had only asked why the flag of one religious community was flying next to the national flag in such a symbolic location", Colville was quoted as saying.

She suggested "it might be more inclusive to fly only the national flag. At no time did she request any flag to be removed," Pillay's spokesman said. But political observers said it was obvious that she had advocated to remove the flag though she had not directly done that as it would be beyond her mandate.

GL feels Pillay could be biased

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L Peiris, while claiming that no post-conflict country, was subjected to pressure as Sri Lanka, said that he felt UN high commissioner for human rights Navi Pillay could be biased. In an interview with India's Times of India, Prof. Peiris explained why Sri Lanka faces pressure over its war history and present record - and what India can do in these circumstances.

"I think her observations are biased and do not reflect reality. She did not take into account compelling evidence provided to her during her visit, including a report by UN agencies prepared by talking to 917 people in the Northern Province - a vast majority of these people described the army as a source of comfort," the Minister told the newspaper.

"She also did not take note of how army presence in the region has been cut down. Or that the same province is growing by 22% as against the national average of 6.2%. Also, Pillay wanted to visit Mullivaikal, the place where Prabhakaran died, in a clandestine manner. She said she wanted to go there to pay a floral tribute to all the people who died in the war on terrorism but did not inform us, even though we'd provided her access to all places.

The local UN office too was not informed about the proposed visit. She later called it off only after a furore. Then she said a new ministry for law and order should be under civilian control, implying that President Rajapaksa is not a civilian authority, which is completely wrong," Prof Peiris said. Asked what his expectations from India in the present circumstances, Minister Peiris said that Sri Lanka wants an understanding of its situation on the part of the Indian government with regard to what Colombo has accomplished so far in terms of implementation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission report.

"This country is entitled to time and space to continue with this sensitive process - it is not unreasonable to expect goodwill from India. We hope India is represented at the highest level in the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting summit in Sri Lanka. The summit is a good opportunity for the world to see what has been accomplished in the past four years - and how difficult it has been," the Minister added.

Sri Lanka asks not to discredit PC polls

Sri Lanka on Thursday asked detractors at the Human Rights Council not to discredit the Northern Provincial Council election process or prejudge its outcome and impact.

Exercising a 'right of reply' with regard to references made to Sri Lanka by Germany, the US and Ireland under Agenda Item 4 - General Debate at the ongoing 24th Session of the Human Rights Council, the Sri Lanka delegation on Thursday said, it seemed ironic that at a time when for the first time since the introduction of the Provincial Council system in 1987 elections to the Northern Provincial Council are to be held later this week, that Germany should choose to discredit the process and prejudge its outcome and impact.

It was noted that the commitment of the Government to ensure the transparent and free and fair conduct of the election not only to the Northern Provincial Council, but also to the Central and North Western Provincial Councils y is clearly demonstrated by the presence of 24 election observers from the South Asian region as well as from Commonwealth countries, on the invitation of the Elections Commissioner.

More candidates declare assets

More election candidates have declared their personal assets, compared to past elections. Over 65 percent of the candidates who contested yesterday's Provincial Council elections have tendered their asset and liability statements.

As of the initial deadline of August 30 given by the Elections Commissioner, only two percent of all candidates had given their statements and since the deadline was extended, it had increased to thirty percent by September 07 and now stands at sixty five percent as of September 16.

The remaining 35 percent who are yet to hand in the statements are from smaller parties coming forward in support of the major parties Mr. Wijetunga said, adding that of the main parties only 2 percent of the UNP and 2-5 percent of the TNA are yet to submit their statements.

There has been a positive response from candidates this time around and there is a large increase compared with the last Provincial Council Election. Many feel that the trend will continue in the future elections as well.

The Elections Commissioner stated previously that all candidates who do not tender a statement of their assets and liabilities will not be published in the gazette even if they do go on to win and that such candidates will not be allowed to resume duties in their Provinces.

Tiger sympathiser taught a lesson in Killinochchi

An attempt by an LTTE sympathiser to mislead a gathering of Northern Tamils present at the opening of the Killinochchi railway station was prevented by a 15-year old Tamil boy.

"This is a Government gimmick to fool us. I don't think the Yal Devi train would continue. It will be there only for a few days until the elections," an elderly Tamil named Murugesu told the crowd. But a 15-year-old Tamil boy immediately raised his voice to stop Murugesu from spreading LTTE agenda.

"You seem to be jealous of what the younger generation in the North is experiencing after the dawn of peace. I have never seen a train in my life.

Now, the trains are coming to our door step. Are you against that?" he questioned. Murugesu opted to keep mum as the boy seemed to be much more intelligent to experience the transformation that has taken place since the vanquishing of the LTTE leadership. "I have got a new mobile phone and now could talk to my mother in Canada. We have got a new school building. We have got new computers to work on for the first time in our lives. My friends at school too are happy with the new facilities we have got. Don't attempt to spoil our dream. You seem to me jealous of what we are getting now," he silenced Murugesu.

KP criticises TNA manifesto

Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP castigated the TNA saying that the election manifesto of the Tamil National Alliance was a more serious demand than the Vadukkoddai document which called for a separate state.

Addressing a media conference at the Sencholai Child Development Centre in Kilinochchi last week, Kumaran Pathmanathan, formerly with the LTTE, said that the TNA manifesto was more serious than the Vadukkoddai agreement and the LTTE's Oslo Pact.

"Certain words have been included in the manifesto to cover up its seriousness."

He said that holding of the Northern polls was democratically a significant opportunity gained by the Northerners, adding that people living in the North would benefit through this provincial council.

"I call upon the Tamils to rally round President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as there is no hope for them by voting for an unstable political party.

It is high time that they make the best use of this golden opportunity and vote the UPFA into power and live in freedom, peace and harmony."

He further told the media that it was only now that people who underwent hardships were gaining benefits. "Northern Tamils had to face enormous difficulties in the past. TNA is trying to unleash hardships on their people again.

KP said, "The TNA is misleading innocent and poor Tamils. It is a sin to hoodwink the public in this manner. The TNA is misleading the public saying their needs would not be met through this PC.

They claim there should be a struggle to win their privileges." KP emphasised that the TNA wanted to begin this struggle after winning the polls.

They also claim that youth in the province are geared for the struggle. Making reference to Vartharaja Perumal, he claimed that Perumal misused powers of the first PC established in the North.

" TNA is now planning to do the same thing citing Eelam. Their aim is to achieve their objectives, but not serve the public by winning the poll. They intend to secure positions and meet their ends," Pathmanathan added.