Eastern unity catalyst for resurgence - Ampara Mayor

Rasika Somarathna in Ampara

Ampara: The entry of former armed groups into the democratic mainstream should be viewed as a catalyst rather than a threat, said Ampara Mayor Sarath Deshapriya yesterday, speaking on the May 10 PC polls in the East.

While pointing out that it was ethnic disharmony which paved way for the present crisis, the Mayor said that the Eastern resurgence should be based on unity among all communities.

"Thus we should encourage their entry into mainstream politics, rather than malign and push them back into former dark era, which is what the SLMC and UNP are trying, just to gain cheap political mileage," he charged. Thus people in the East should realise that only a UPFA victory at the May 10 PC poll would carry the momentum forward in the Eastern Resurgence, he added.

Identifying Ampara and the East in general as a unique area as it houses all three communities in substantial proportions Deshapriya said that the UPFA was the only party which could unite all three communities under one banner.

"We should combine forces under the Negenahira Navodaya to strengthen democracy and propel the development drive," Deshapriya said while adding that a UPFA victory at the polls which was a foregone conclusion should ensure the march forward. He also added that the Ampara MC which was under the rule of the UNP for over 27 years was in utter chaos when the UPFA took control a couple of years back.

Since then the Council has been turned into a profit earning institution with an unprecedented level of development in Ampara, he said.

Thus the May 10 poll was an opportunity for the Eastern polity to show their appreciation and unite under "Mahinda Chinthana" to propel the East forward, Deshapriya said adding that a UPFA victory would be another step towards regaining the former glory of the East.