|
General Election 2001
Major contesting parties
Prime Minister hopefuls
Ratnasiri Wickremenayake
 The tragic death of his brother Munidasa Wickremanayake put an end to
what would have been a brilliant academic - legal career at Lincoln's Inn,
London for Ratnasiri Wickremanayake in 1960.
Urged to continue with his brother's political agenda in Horana, just
one month before his Barrister's final examination, young Wickremenayake
however, bowed down to the wishes of the people, successfully contesting
the Parliamentary Elections in March 1960.
He was able to defeat the late M.D.H Jayawardene of the UNP by a
comfortable majority, contesting under the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP)
banner.
In July 1960, he was re-elected although he contested as an Independent
candidate. He joined the SLFP and subsequently contested in 1965 and 1970.
Wickremanayake was a Deputy Minister of Justice and also the Minister
for Justice and Plantation Industries during 70-77 regime. After the
defeat of the SLFP government in 1977 he was elected as General Secretary
of the Party in 1977. He was the election agent of Hector Kobbekaduwa,
presidential candidate of the SLFP in 1982.After the 1982 presidential
election he was taken into custody and kept in detention.
In 1993, he made his mark again at the Provincial Council elections and
garnering the highest number of votes in the Kalutara District as the PA
Group Leader. Subsequently he held office in Western Provincial Council as
Minister of Local Government, Land, Irrigation, Cooperatives, Sports,
Livestock, Agriculture, Divisional Administration and Provincial
Administration.
Wickremanayake also secured the highest number of votes in the Kalutara
District the Parliamentary Elections in 1994.
The highlight of his illustrious, yet chequered political career was
that he held the portfolio of Plantation Industries three times (1975,
1994 and 2000).
He was appointed Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs,
Parliamentary Affairs and Plantation Industries in the PA Government of
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in 1994 and was also Leader
of the House.
He succeeded the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike to be the twelfth Prime
Minister of independent Sri Lanka.
He is a product of Millewa Primary School, Horana, Dharmapala Vidyalaya,
Pannipitiya and Ananda College, Colombo.
Ranil Wickremesinghe
 He was a budding lawyer representing `his eminent boss'
H.W Jayawardene when he first made an impression on J.R Jayawardene in
the early 1970s.
The smart young man, who came to deliver a set of files and give some
legal counsel to the then Opposition Leader J.R Jayewardene, perhaps
little realised what an impression he would make on the man that would
rule this country for the next 17 years.
But an impression he made, and a lasting one at that, with his legal
skills and diplomacy paving the way for a political career that now spans
over 24 years.
Having taken up the challenge to contest the Biyagama electorate under
the UNP ticket, Wicremesinghe contributed to a landslide victory for the
UNP at the 1977 General Elections. Leader of the Opposition and a former
Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe first held the portfolio of Deputy
Foreign Minister and subsequently the ministerial portfolios of Youth
Affairs, Education and Manpower Mobilisation and National Services in the
J.R Jayewardene regime. A totally `indigenous product' he is a past pupil
of Royal College, Colombo.
He passed his LL.B at the University of Colombo, and took a keen
interest in student activities.
A past President of Law Faculty Students' Union and the Vice President
of the Students' Council he passed out as an advocate from the Law
College, Colombo in 1972.
Mr. Wickremesinghe is a patron of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya and
the Gangaramaya, Hunupitiya, two religious centres with which his family
has had connections for generations. Widely travelled he also an elected
vice-chairman presiding over the 34th session of the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) held in Bangkok in March,
1978.
He married Maitree, a university lecturer, in early 1995.
PA - for a strong democracy
* A political solution to the ethnic crisis
* The process of the establishment of the Independent Commissions
will be completed
* Abolition of the Executive Presidency
* A new electoral system - Abolition of the Preferential voting
system
* Approval of the voters is sought to use victory at this election
as a legal mandate to introduce a new Constitution
* An economy that empowers the people
* Samurdhi program will be accelerated
* Protection of farmers against threats from globalisation
* Special emphasis on development of Mahaweli areas
* A food production drive
* Strengthening the process of developing the plantation economy
* The sea-catch would be increased.
* The salaries Commission report will be implemented from January
2002
* Rural industries and small industries will be developed
* IT based management system throughout the country will be
extended
* Energy will take priority in infrastructure development
* Colombo-Katunayake and Colombo-Matara Expressways will be
completed
* Improved facilities at the ports around the country
* 148 urban areas have been identified for planned development
* The city of Colombo will be developed to the level of an
international city
* The 'Thirasara Purawara' program will be extended
* A fully equipped and staffed hospital in every district
* Free education up to graduate level at State expense
* Day-care centers for small children will be set up
* Rights of women and children will be protected
* Elders home in every district
* The non-aligned foreign policy will be carried forward
 UNP - For a New Economic Future
*A strong and stable government for our country.
*People-oriented development plan for a new economic future.
*The Samurdhi Programme will be depoliticized, strengthened and
guided forward.
*A massive drive on economy. The country will be divided into five
Economic Zones to promote development in the country.
*The transport sector will be made more efficient and systematic.
*Reforestation and protection of water resources.
*Laws relating to the Women's Charter will be enacted.
*A Graduate Employment Assistance Programme for unemployed
graduates will be introduced.
*A "Youth Corps" for unemployed young men and women will
be set up. *Promotion of information technology at the provincial level.
*National Energy Council will be set up to formulate a short-term
and long-term energy policy.
*Peace is the principle objective. An atmosphere that will enable
the conflicting parties to opt for peace will be created.
*An interim administration will be set up for the northern and
eastern provinces.
*An independent commission will be appointed to solve the problems
of the displaced people and the other victims of the war.
*The armed forces will be depoliticized, modernized and
professionalised.
*The term of Parliament will be reduced to five years.
*An Independent Police Commission, Independent Public Service
Commission and Independent Election Commission will be set up.
*An Independent Constitutional Council will be set up to make key
appointments in the administrative service.
*The Supreme Court will be vested with the responsibility of
determining the constitutionality of new laws and regulations.
JVP - To build the nation
*A long lasting solution to the North East crisis through a
democratic process based on equality.
*Hold talks with the LTTE, or any other separatist groups, but
under specific conditions.
*The conditions are applicable either to a JVP government or a JVP
partnered coalition.
*Develop both the state and private sectors.
*The rapid development process will be further enhanced through the
appointment of a Parliament Select Committee.
*Appointments, promotions, and transfers in the public sector will
be totally apolitical.
*International Labour Laws will be adopted.
*A sustainable educational programme will be introduced
*Information Technology and Computer Science will also be given
priority.
*The existing foreign policy practised for the past 53 years by the
UNP and the SLFP will be reviewed.
*All Sri Lankan embassies will come directly under a JVP
administered government.
*The JVP will strive to establish new fisheries harbours.
*The concepts will be introduced to the distribution of lands
*Prospective tourist guides will be trained and introducing courses
in hotel management.
*A national sports policy will be introduced
*Establishment of an International level Cinema training school.
*New cultural centres will be established countrywide at rural
level
*Funds will be provided to artistes to introduce new creations.
 TNA (TULF) - Towards lasting peace
The immediate aims and objectives of the Tamil alliance comprising of
the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), the Tamil Eelam Liberation
Organisation (TELO), the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) and the Eelam
People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF - Suresh Wing) are the
follows:
* the immediate lifting of the economic embargo currently in
force, in parts of the Northern and Eastern Province;
* the withdrawal of the residential and travel restriction foisted
on the Tamil nationality;
* the immediate cessation of the War being currently waged in the
North-East;
* the immediate commencement of the process of negotiations with
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) with international third party
involvement. This alliance also states that unless meaningful negotiations
are held with the LTTE no just solution can be found to the Tamil national
question, and that such negotiations should be held immediately only with
the LTTE. This alliance further states that in order to ensure that the
negotiations are properly focussed and are purposeful and successful - no
parallel negotiations should take place with any other Tamil political
formation.
* That to facilitate the commencement of such negotiations, steps
should be taken to lift the proscription imposed on the LTTE in Sri Lanka,
and thereby ensure that such proscription does not constitute an
impediment to the free and full participation of the LTTE at such
negotiations on behalf of the Tamil nationality;
The Alliance contests the forth coming Parliamentary elections in order
to achieve the aims and objectives, outlined above, and will campaign both
nationally and internationally for the achievement of the said aims and
objectives.
 EPDP - Towards a Region of Eelam
(Summerised and translated from
Tamil)
* Acting fiercely for the creation of a Region of Eelam within a
united Sri Lanka which enjoys autonomy as a seperate administrative unit.
* Acting in a manner to empower the Region of Eelam with special
powers to accomplish the following:
* 2.(1) To settle the landless Tamil citizens of the Region of
Eelam in lands hitherto own by the Government. To take measures to nullify
the efforts which have been todate cantered round the distortion of the
ethnic equilibrium and to stop the plunder of the economic resources of
the Tamil populace within the Region of Eelam.
* 2.(2)Acting in a manner to restore and to reinstate all powers
relating to education, lands, agriculture, fisheries and housing to the
Region of Eelam.
* 2.(3)Gradually empower the Region of Eelam with resources such as
power and industries.
* 2.(4)Acting in a manner to empower the Muslim youth of the region
in accordance with their political, social and economic aspirations.
* 2.(5)The creation of a Public Services Commission which will deal
with all promotions, transfers of all public servants and all other
affairs relating to the Public Service within the region.
* 2.(6)The Region of Eelam will be responsible for independently
negotiating external debts/loans and all other affairs relating to the
Public Finance within the Region of Eelam.
* 2.(7)The Region of Eelam to be responsible for independently
negotiating for the maintenance of law and order within the region.
* 3. The Tamil language will have equal prominence as Sinhala, the
language of the majority community.
 Sihala Urumaya - End to terrorism
*Defeat any federal constitution that will lead to division of the
country.
*Defeat the Northern terrorists.
*Abolish the Executive Presidency and Provincial Councils.
*Reduce parliamentary seats to 125 and ministers to 18.
*Restore the grave injustices caused to the Sinhala people.
*Taking step to safeguard Buddhasasana.
*Close liquor shops on permits to MPs.
*Death penalty for drug dealers and peddlers.
*National Anthem to be sung only in Sinhala.
*Better livelihood for farmers.
*Change in import policies to boost agriculture and industries.
*Water, electricity, gas, telephone and postage under subsidised
rates.
*Free education up to and including University level.
*Salary increase of 25% to government servants on conclusion of the
Northern conflict.
*Free public transport and medical care for senior citizens and
disabled.
*Reduction of vehicles, security, subsidized meals and other
benefits to MPs.
*Death penalty for corrupt arms and, goods dealers.
*Deterrent punishment to those found guilty of bribery and
corruption, past and present.
*Depoliticisation of the Judiciary, Police and other State
institutions.
*Heavy penalties on those found guilty of corruption or negligence
in the sale/ privatization of state owned assets.
*Punish those guilty of illegal clearing of forests.
*Special benefit to members of Security Forces and to families of
those who lost their lives to uphold the unitary character of their
motherland
*Citizenship to estate Tamils of Indian origin only in terms of
Sirima/ Shastri and Sirima/ Indira Pacts.
Back
|
