Provincial Council elections for East in May 2008

Provincial Council elections for East in May 2008

- President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already decided to go for Provincial Council elections for the Eastern Province in May this year. Nominations will be called at the end of this month or middle of next month, the Construction and Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senarathne said.. Minister Senarathne said that the Batticaloa Local government election which ended last Monday once again proved the public’s need for the democracy. “In a situation where the Main Opposition party of the country prevented from contesting, voters turn out was almost 60 per cent. It is a victory of the democracy as well the President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s vision for the country”, Minister Senarathne added. He further stated that the United National Party’s decision to boycott the Batticalo election was an unwise decision which could lead to various terrorist activities. He said that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) did not contest the elections as they want to adhere the LTTE ruling. “Anyway it was unfair by the UNP supporters who were waiting to vote in this election after fourteen years”, minister added. Minister Senarathne further satated that the election held after 14 years, defeating terrorist activities in the Batticaloa District, clearly demonstrated the President Rajapaksa’s need to enter into a democratic governing process in the cleared areas of the Eastern Province, under his directions.

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UNITED NATIONAL PARTY HANDS PETTION AGAINST PROVINCIAL POLLS IN EAST

United Nation Party today handed over a petition to the Polls Chief calling on him not to hold Provincial Polls in the east.

UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha took part in a protest opposite the Elections Commission today urging the commissioner not to hold a provincial council election in the East.

At the press conference held in Opposition Leader's official residence to clarify the stance of the UNP on Batticaloa poll, the MP said that the UNP would reject the result.

MP Kiriella(UNP) said that the government would not be able to cheat the international community through elections contested in connivance with armed groups. He said that the election of the Eastern Province would add to the long list of human rights violations such as killings and abductions