Reduced violence, indication of Mahinda's victory - Prof. Samaranayake

BY L. B. WIJAYASIRI in Kandy

VICE CHANCELLOR of the Rajarata University Professor Gamini Samaranayake said in Kandy that in comparison to previous elections, the notable decline in the pre-polls violence at this election was a clear indication of a comfortable victory to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse at the forthcoming Presidential election.

In the political history of Sri Lanka the rate of pre-polls violence was high during previous elections. That was when the power was to be changed from political party to another.

In Sri Lanka where literacy rate was very high and the people were politically matured, so that the people have already decided who should be elected the leader of the country.

Accordingly Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse would be polled more than 55 per cent. Professor Samaranayake said so at a meeting held at the D. S. Senanayake Memorial Public Library. It was organised by Peradeniya University Teachers' Association for Democracy and Human Rights.

He added that election to be held on November 17 would be a struggle between the people and the higher class society. But the UNP was trying to paint it as a struggle between the war and the peace.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was making attempts to issue character certificates to the LTTE. He was trying to colour wash the LTTE in an effort to cover up the murderous activities of the LTTE.

The people of the country had decided to ensure the victory of Prime Minister Rajapakse even before he was nominated to contest Presidential election by the SLFP.

Whatever the results of so-called SMS surveys conducted by private TV channels, the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and people of other racial and religious groups have already been rallied round Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and were committed to ensure his victory.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had never got any power from the people. What he had obtained was what he had secured from the higher society in the country.

In the contrary Mahinda Rajapakse was a son of the common man who felt the pulse of the ordinary people. Therefore his victory was imminent, added Professor Samaranayake.

Prof. A. M. Nawaratne Banda of the Political Science Dept. of Peradeniya University, Senior Lecturer, Economics Dept. Sumanasiri Liyanage also spoke.