JVP says ready for poll

Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO : JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa stressing that the outcome of Thursday's mini poll met with the party's expectations said it was prepared to face a General Election at any time.

Responding to media questions at a press conference at Hotel Nippon yesterday, Weerawansa said: "We are quite happy with the results. Our full vote base manifests itself in a General Election but at the mini poll we enhanced our standing even better than at the 2001 general election."

The JVP contested in alliance with the PA at the 2004 General Election.

JVP General Secretary Tilvyn Silva said it was a challenging political decision for his party to contest on its own against a new Government and a popular President. Nevertheless, they came out with exceptional results, expanding the party's vote base from 9.1 per cent to 12 per cent.

"We increased our number of seats from 219 to 365 and retained the Tissamaharama Pradeshiya Sabha. This is a major victory when you consider that the new President is still at an advantageous position from the South," he said.

Weerawansa noted that had the JVP contested in combination with the PA at Thursday's election, the UNP would have lost control in all the bodies except for a very few.

He said the JVP had secured the main opposition role in five local bodies including the Anuradhapura Municipal council for the first time, pushing the UNP to third place.

"They are making all kinds of statements about the JVP to cover their own defeat and the raging internal conflict centred on the party leadership."

"It shows the UNP's political immaturity and ignorance," the Propaganda Secretary said adding that this was quite apparent by the action to sack UNP MP Mahinda Wijesekera from the Party's working Committee and as Weligama Chief Organiser.