of the party's Working Committee.
results unacceptable Janaka alleges fraud  |
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| North Central Province UNP chief ministerial candidate, Janaka Perera said yesterday he did not accept the election results as genuine or that the election was conducted in a free and fair manner. He charged that there was violence, thuggery, intimidation and arson attacks against the UNP in the entire district even on election day. “The ballot boxes were brought to Anuradhapura counting centers at 5.30 p.m. but the counting only started only at 8.30 p.m. There was a three-hour gap and anything could have happened during these three hours. Therefore I do not accept the results in Anuradhapura,” he said. However he noted he would continue to serve the people in the North-Central Province and fight the new administration in the province on behalf of the voters, he said. |
The mandate received by UPFA at PC polls is one given to the troops and not for the jumbo Cabinet or corruption, National freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa said while ago addressing a press conference in Colombo.
Somawansa
The governing United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) emerged victorious at Saturday’s North Central and Sabaragamuwa provincial council elections and President Mahinda Rajapaksa termed it as a “victory for the motherland.”
The UPFA has secured 20 seats with 307,457 votes in the North Central Province and 25 seats in Sabaragamuwa polling 472,789 votes while the main opposition UNP polled 205,284 in the North Central Province getting 12 seats and 346,321 votes in Sabaragamuwa getting 17 seats.
The JVP was only able to obtain 26,738 votes in the North Central Province obtaining one seat and 19,068 votes in Sabaragamuwa winning two seats.
“I see the convincing victory by the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at the elections to the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils held yesterday as a victory for all our people who love our motherland.
“It is an election where the country has won. While thanking the people of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura, and Kegalle Districts and all others, who contributed to this victory, I call upon them to enjoy their success in peace,” an elated Presdient Rajapaksa said.
“I express my humble gratitude for the new people’s mandate given to the “Mahinda Chinthana” through the free and fair election held yesterday.
“There is no doubt that public opinion represented in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces is the opinion of the entire country. While the majority of our people have been able to defeat the many vicious efforts of forces that were ranged against the country, the strength and morale that our heroic troops will receive from this victory in their battles to finally end the bloody terrorism from our country is immeasurable.
“My government and I give foremost place to the country, and its people. This public mandate has given greater strength and courage to expedite and energise our march to protect the country and awaken the people.
“I repeat the plea I made to you in the Presidential Election of 2005 to help build a country that is free of the differences of political party, colour and all such differences.
I wish to state that the door remains open for those who have delayed to join us on that march,” the President added.
Voting to elect representatives to the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils closed at 4.00 pm today (Aug. 23rd), with a turnout of between 65 and 70 percent, said the Elections Secretariat.The sealed ballot boxes are being transported to counting centres by now, while the counting of postal votes is underway.
Research suggests that men from polygamist cultures live 12 per cent longer than those who limit their affections to one woman at a time.
Sheffield University researchers uncovered the 'benefits' of polygamy by scrutinising World Health Organisation data on marriage practices and on life span.
The analysis shows that men who live in countries where it is common to have more than one wife tend to outlive their monogamous counterparts.
The finding took into account a country's economic situation to minimise the effect of better nutrition and healthcare in monogamous Western nations.
It is thought that the pressure of having to provide for a big families may lead to men taking better care of their bodies and their health. They may also benefit from the care and attention of several wives.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1047659/Why-having-extra-wife-lead-longer-life.html
Susanthika fails to enter finals
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demanded immediate intervention by Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to order an end to Labour Minister Mervyn Silva's anti-media campaign of interrogation and violence against Sirasa TV.
According to the Free Media Movement (FMM), an IFJ affiliate, Minister Silva reportedly organized a protest with about 100 people outside the Sirasa TV station in Colombo on August 11 to call for a ban on the broadcaster.
Sirasa TV has consistently reported on a series of verbal and physical attacks by Silva against journalists, most notably a violent confrontation between the Minister and the news director of the state-run Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) in December 2007.
More recently, Silva assaulted journalist Thushara Saliya Ranawaka and video cameraman Waruna Sampath, on August 4 while they were reporting on a bridge opening in Kelaniya. Silva’s verbal threats against them were recorded on a camera, which was reportedly confiscated by the Minister.
Political observers say the minister is emboldened by the support of President Rajapaksa and his government turning a blind eye to his roguish behavior. They say the minister brings the party to disgrace by his thuggish actions.
