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| Monday, 16 February 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Resounding victory for Freedom Alliance - Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Negombo Special Alex David The newly formed Freedom Alliance will achieve a resounding victory with more than 110 seats at the forthcoming general election even without the support of parties led by Rauff Hakeem and Thondaman, said former PA Parliamentarian Jeyaraj Fernandopulle yesterday (15th). The former PA minister was speaking at the SLFP Balamandalaya meeting of the Katana electorate. The meeting was attended by well over 1,000 party members including branch presidents and secretaries. He recalled the violence which erupted after the last general election. Those families which became victims of UNP violence found refuge in my home where we are holding the meeting today. "This time the PA-JVP Alliance will win at the election. But we will not harass the UNP supporters. I have already given necessary instructions to our partymen to this effect," he said. Instead, we will win the Katana electorate this time with a bigger majority within a peaceful environment. Hundreds of members have left the UNP. Fifteen families in the Katana electorate have left the UNP and become PA-JVP members. UNP supporters from the Negombo area too, have become fed up with the party, Fernandopulle said. Referring to instances of extortion by UNP supporters in the area, former parliamentarian said that the UNP stalwarts had extorted money from owners of Chinese restaurants in the area and said this amount ranged from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 100,000. Some of these hotels have been closed, because of this 'kappan' business, former MP Fernandopulle said. "Ours is not a party based on extortion. Our party will, this time, launch a clean campaign and form a strong political foundation on the April 3," said Jeyaraj Fernandopulle. At every election, the number of votes cast for me increased. This is proof of my clean politics. This time, too I will go to parliament with renewed commitment to the people, he said. Former Minister Felix Perera, Negombo SLFP organiser Sarath Kumara Guneratne, Provincial Councillor John Fernando and Divulapitiya SLFP organiser Saddathissa Sakalasooriya also spoke at the meeting. |
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