Eastern Provincial Council Polls:
Campaign hots up after Avurudu break
Rasika SOMARATHNA
COLOMBO: Political parties and independent groups in the fray
at the May 10 Eastern Provincial elections are braced for a hectic
campaign following a break for the festive season.
The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is expected to adopt a
change of strategy, according to General Secretary, Minister Susil
Premajayantha, with pocket meetings and house to house campaigning
taking precedence.
According to Minister Premajayantha, the UPFA has formed steering
committees in all polling divisions with the concurrence of all
political parties under its banner to carry the campaign forward.
The UPFA which has based its campaign slogan on Peace, Development
and Democracy is supported by a number of constituent parties as well as
the TMVP which swept the board at the recently concluded local polls in
Batticaloa.
The other main contender, the United National Party (UNP) was
expected to flag off its campaign with a rally in Ampara yesterday with
the backing of its main ally the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).
Meanwhile, the Chief Ministerial aspirant of the JVP Wimal Piyatissa
told the Daily News yesterday that the problems within the party
hierarchy did not have any impact on its polls campaign in the East.
The other major players in the contest the TDNA and the EPDP have
decided to confine their campaign to pocket meetings and door to door
visits.
According to Police no election related incident has been reported so
far. However as a precautionary measure they have banned rallies after
6.00 p.m.
The Elections DIG for Batticaloa H.M.D. Herath told the Daily News
that all was well upto now, but security arrangements were not relaxed
and all measures were in place to meet any eventuality.
Refusing to divulge details, the DIG said an elaborate security plan
would be in operation throughout the campaign and election day including
providing security to candidates and political rallies.
The Eastern Provincial Council Elections is expected to elect 37
representatives to the council from 1,342 candidates. |