Parties raise campaign pace
Just 10 days remain for propaganda work
Chaminda Perera
colombo: Key political parties contesting the North Central Province
and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections yesterday said their
campaigns have come to the final stage with only 10 days remaining for
electioneering.
UPFA General Secretary and Education Minister Susil Premajayantha
told the Daily News yesterday that 75 per cent of pocket meetings held
as part of their election campaign had been completed.
Most other meetings at village level and Divisional Secretariat level
have ended with Cabinet Ministers and non Cabinet Ministers in
attendance.
He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already participated in the
Anuradhapura district rally and will address Polonnaruwa, Kegalle and
Ratnapura district rallies on August 14, 18, and 19.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka will also participate in
several election rallies in Sabaragamuwa and the North Central Province.
Minister Premajayantha categorically refuted the UNP’s allegations that
the UPFA candidates and supporters are behind the election violence in
the two provinces.
“These allegations are baseless and aimed at covering up their
sagging popularity in these provinces in the face of Security Forces
achievements under the guidance of President Rajapaksa.
Pseudo election monitoring organisations are UNP’s cat’s paws and the
Government will not accept their misleading reports other than PAFFREL
which we believe is impartial and independent,” he said.
Some political parties are in the habit of erecting party offices in
every nook and corner to give publicity to their candidates. This has
become an impediment to violence free electioneering, he said.
Meanwhile, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said their campaign
is in progress amidst intimidation by UPFA candidates and their
supporters.
According to Attanayake the UNP’s final rallies will be held on
August 19 and 20 at district level with the participation of party
leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.
“Our supporters and candidates are subjected to assault by the
Government and Law enforcement authorities have not taken any action
over these incidents. The Anuradhapura Police HQI is publicly canvassing
for the UPFA which is illegal,” he said.
“Election related violence is rampant in the Anuradhapura district
when compared to Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura and Kegalle districts. The
Government should take responsibility for unleashing violence in the
Anuradhapura district,” he said. |