May 10 Red Letter Day for East
Rasika Somarathna
On May 10 all eyes would be on the crucial Provincial Council
Election in the East, which is of both political and historical
importance to Sri Lanka due to a variety of reasons.
The election in itself is a unique one as it is the first occasion
that such a poll is being held for the de-merged East with the first and
final PC poll taking place way back in 1988 for the merged North east
Province.
New bridges are connecting Eastern villages |
Since that election in 1988 where Vardharaja Perumal became the Chief
Minister and its subsequent dissolution in 1990, significant changes
have taken place in the Eastern theatre.
Since then under the present Government the Eastern province has been
brought under one flag as parts of the Province under unofficial control
of the LTTE were liberated.
As a result of the successful plea brought before the Supreme Court
in 2006, the North and East which was merged being subjected to a
referendum within one year (which did not take place), was once again
separated into two provinces.
Following this and the subsequent liberation of the entire Province
from Tiger clutches, the need for holding an election for the Eastern
Provincial Council emerged.
Following local elections the Government wheels moved swiftly to hold
PC polls with the intention of strengthening the democratic process and
empowering the Eastern polity, by giving an opportunity for them to
elect their own representatives to Govern the Province.
The liberation of the Eastern Province which culminated with the fall
of the final LTTE frontier - The Barons Cap (Thoppigala) was not a mere
battlefield success to gain control over terrain.
It was in fact a humanitarian mission to liberate a population from
the clutches of terror and tyranny by preventing a group of extremist
terrorists from abusing a vital region of the country which had been the
homeland for generations of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims since ancient
times.
The Province plays a unique role in the Sri Lankan map as it houses
all three major communities the Sinhala (22.7%), Tamil (48%) and Muslims
(28.2%) in substantial proportions.
It is made up of 9,965 square kilometres covering around 16 per cent
of the total land mass of Sri Lanka, with a maximum length of 286
kilometres from Kumana in the South to Pulmoddai in the North-East.
The maximum breadth is 89 kilometres from Ulhitiya in the West to
Kirankulam in the East.
Also it houses a multi-faceted environmentally rich 420 kilometre
coastline (Ampara 110 kms, Batticaloa 100 kms and Trincomalee 210 kms)
and is the only province with three airports at Trincomalee, Batticaloa
and Ampara.
Thus the East which is being considered as the richest province in
Sri Lanka because of the enormous resources it possesses would face this
crucial election on May 10 after two decades.
It also comes in the backdrop of a development revolution by the
Government in an area where development was a word forgotten under Tiger
clutches.
The East which consists of three districts namely Trincomalee Ampara
and Batticaloa is set to elect 37 members to the Council - 35 elected
members from the districts in addition to two bonus seats.
A record number of 18 political parties and 73 independent groups are
in the fray including the UNP and the JVP which did not contest the
recently concluded local polls in the Batticaloa district.
According to analysts unlike the concluded Batticaloa local polls
which was won by the TMVP, the PC elections for the East is considered
as a two horse race with the UNP, SLMC combination posing a challenge to
the UPFA which is backed by the TMVP, in addition to a number of its
constituent parties.
However, in the backdrop of Government's effort to liberate the
province and its subsequent development drive in the East analysts
predict a UPFA victory which would ensure the momentum being carried
forward.
Road construction |
Also a successful election in the East is seen by the Eastern polity
as a defeat to the LTTE and the separatist lobby, because first and
foremost this would usher in a democratically elected administrative
structure consisting of representative of the East.
In addition it would also shatter the Eelamist dream with the East
having a separate identity from the North and would limit the boundaries
of the imaginary state of Eelam. This also is expected to act as a
catalyst for liberation of the North subsequent to the establishment of
a viable civil administrative structure in the province.
In this backdrop the forthcoming election is viewed by most as one of
the most crucial in the annals of Sri Lankan polls, one which could
change the cause of history in this country.
This fact no doubt could be gauged by the enthusiasm shown by
Political parties in the fray with both main contenders the UNP and UPFA
putting their full might behind the campaign in order to become the
victor.
The UNP's decision not to contest the local polls in Batticaloa was
roundly criticised even among its own rank and file, thus its entry
along with SLMC was a foregone conclusion.
Development projects in East |
However this has contributed to heightened competition which has
resulted in the number of election related incidents going up in
comparison to the recently concluded Batticaloa local polls.
However one has to consider that the Batticaloa poll took place only
in a single district opposed to the PC election which is being held in
three districts.
But according to authorities most of these complaints have been
trivial in nature. However they have taken all steps necessary for the
conduct of a peaceful election by deploying a 20,000 strong security
contingent with strict orders to uphold law and order.
Election Authorities too have taken steps to deploy more than 15,000
personnel on election day, making this the biggest manpower deployment
ever for a single province in the annals of our elections.
Also there are a number of groups in the election monitoring process
with the main polls watchdog in the country PAFFREL deploying more than
2,500 observers including foreigners in their ranks.
A total of 982,721 registered voters would be eligible to exercise
their franchise to elect 37 members out of a total of 1342 in the fray.
Most analysts predict a record turnout at the election based on the
enthusiasm shown by both political parties and the public in the area.
Also they predict that the forthcoming poll would be a litmus test
for the Government in the backdrop of its efforts to liberate the area
and its subsequent development drive. The election is also considered as
one which could unite all three communities in the province which is of
paramount importance to Eastern resurgence.
However the expectations of the public remain high since being
liberated from Tiger clutches the focus is clearly on development with
more livelihood projects, infrastructure development, education, health
etc. to lead them on the path of recovery.
When you travel the length and breadth of the area it is apparent
that the general polity wants the momentum to continue without going
back to the former dark era. who ever becomes the victor in the May 10
poll it is apparent that a free and fair election in the East would be a
victory for the country, specially a victory for the Eastern masses.
Thus the May 10 poll would be a red letter day for the East. It is
one which could change the history of the East and the country in
general.
District Population Number Electoral Number No. of Political No. of
of Votes District of the Parties Candidates
Polling Provincial
Stations Council
Members
Batticaloa 486,447 330,950 Kalkuda 91 11 Political
Batticaloa 137 Parties - 12
Padirippu 86 Independent
Groups - 15 378
Total - 27
Digamadulla 592,997 409,308 Ampara 153 14 Political
Samanthure 77 Parties - 11
Kalmune 60 Independence
Potuvil 140 Groups - 22 403
Total - 33
Trincomalee 340,158 242,463 Seruwila 87 10 Political
Trincomale 97 Parties - 12
Mutur 94 Independent 561
Groups - 19
Total - 31
Total 141,960,2 982,721 1,022 With Bonus 91 1342
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