NCP Polls

To regain past glory and strengthen unity

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Anuradhapura was the political and religious capital in the fourth century BC that flourished for 1,300 years. In its prime, Anuradhapura ranked alongside Nineveh and Babylon.

In the ancient world it was well known for its colossal proportions, its inhabitants, and the splendour of its shrines and public structures.

The district also housed some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world. Most great reservoir tanks still survive today, and some may be the oldest surviving reservoirs in the world.

Also due to its strong agricultural structure Anuradhapura along with Polonnaruwa which constitutes the North Central Province is considered the ‘rice bowl’ of Sri Lanka and provides almost 50 per cent of the country’s rice requirement.

Today, the splendid sacred city of Anuradhapura, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments with the Sri Maha Bodhi taking pride of place, draws many Buddhist pilgrims and visitors.

Since ancient times, Anuradhapura has not been able to achieve its former glory due to a range of reasons.

However, Anuradhapura along with Polonnaruwa are on the brink of another election to appoint representatives to the North Central Provincial Council which could act as a catalyst in altering its path of progress.

The ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) which had only 14 members against the Opposition represented by the United National Party (UNP) with 10 seats, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) with eight seats, and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) which had a combined total of 19 decided to dissolve the Council before its term.

The Government attributed lack of support by the combined opposition in development work and passing resolutions to this effect in the Provincial Council.

Thus, the NCPC led by Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake which was established on August 11, 2004 was dissolved paving way for a fresh mandate on August 23, 2008.

This time too the UPFA has come up with a strong combination led by former Chief Minister Dissanayake which has the backing of all its constituent parties.

But indications are that the timing of the election has taken the Opposition UNP unaware amply demonstrated in the fact that the lengths they went to find a suitable nominee to the Chief Minister’s post.

Ultimately they had to call Major General (retd.) Janaka Perera residing in Australia to contest the Chief Minister post.

For years, the UNP organisation in Rajarata has been crumbling and the last time UNP won the NCP was in May 1993.

Thus for the past 15 years, the UNP has lost every election in the NCP including the General Election in 1994, the Presidential Election in 1994, the Provincial Council Election in 1999, the Presidential Election in 1999, General Election in 2000.

Since 2004 in four elections the UPFA has won the Anuradhapura district very convincingly. It has polled more than 55 per cent (see chart) votes in all those elections.

It is in such a context that Perera has accepted the challenge. It’s going to be a Herculean task to say the least.

One cannot ignore the JVP factor as well, but judging from the ongoing campaign the Leftist party is not expected to make much inroads mainly due to the recent infighting which has split the party down the middle.

The two main issues in the agenda seems to be the ongoing conflict and the Cost of Living, but for a district which has suffered a long time due to the war against LTTE terror the latter seems to have mass appeal.

When you travel the length and breadth of the area the feeling is that the people have finally seen a light at the end of the tunnel with regard to the ongoing conflict and seems to be willing to sacrifice temporary difficulties for greater prosperity under peaceful conditions in the near future.

They feel no other Government has handled the long drawn out conflict more effectively than the present one and feel that the end is near. Also what tilts the balance towards the UPFA is that the farming community which forms the majority of the district is satisfied with the Government’s efforts to propagate paddy cultivation.

However, on the downside, the pre-election campaign has seen violence rear its head due to hectic campaigning and according to main election watchdog PAFFREL, Anuradhapura is considered the worst affected with over 40 incidents being reported so far.

But the PAFFREL is largely satisfied with the efforts of Police which has taken a stringent approach to curb election violence.

As a result, four policemen have been interdicted for negligence of duty and eight special squads from outstations have been called into to strengthen security.

According to Police, the district would come under an elaborate security blanket during the polling day to curb possible attempts at intimidation and malpractices.

Election authorities too have deployed over 3,000 to man duties on the polling day and according to Assistant Elections Commissioner S.M.S. Bandulasena all arrangements are afoot for a smooth election.

Thus, Anuradhapura is all set for the August 23 poll, an election held under trying conditions.

UPFA will record a landslide victory - UPFA candidate

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

The Government is dedicated to uplift the livelihood of the people in the Province and to upgrade the infrastructure including drinking water, health, road development and electricity. "I appeal to the masses to vote us back to power to complete these tasks and usher peace and prosperity," UPFA North Central Provincial Candidate Berty Premalal Dissanayake said.

Rs. 100 billion or more has been spent so far by the Government for infrastructure development in Rajarata and to uplift livelihood of the people including the Samurdhi relief.

We have identified certain other areas needing improvement which were neglected to a great extent during the Opposition regime. The UPFA will record a landslide victory amidst stringent criticism by the Opposition, he said. The Government rendered all essential facilities to the people in the Province irrespective of political differences.

Dissanayake said the UNP Candidate Janaka Perera has been parachuted to the Anuradhapura district. The people will never allow such persons, Minister Dissanayake added.

People aspire for new administration - UNP candidate

Nimal WIJESINGHE Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

The former administration was full of corruption and malpractices. The voters of the North Central Province are waiting anxiously to elect a new administration which could propel their expectations and we are confident that a UNP Council headed by me could fill the existing vacuum for a vibrant provincial administrative structure, UNP's Chief Ministerial Candidate Major General (retd.) Janaka Perera said.

"The Government and the former Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake are engaged in various antics to sabotage the UNP campaign but I assure that we would be victorious at the end of the day," he said.

The Government deliberately delayed providing me total protection and only provided a skeleton crew recently for the name sake but I am not dettered, I am here to stay and lead the masses of the Province, he said.

JVP fully geared to accept the challenge - JVP candidate

Nimal WIJESINGHE Anuradhapura Additional Districtgroup correspondent

Both UNP and UPFA claim that they would achieve a landslide victory at the upcoming North Central Provincial polls. But this is a mere rhetoric to dupe the masses.

The real victor on August 23 would be the JVP, the JVP Chief Ministerial candidate Wasantha Samarasinghe said. Although several MPs have left the party, the core of the JVP is intact.

We are a very disciplined party with a solid structure from grassroot level and a few MPs leaving has not dented the voter base which in fact has grown over the recent times and this would be proved on August 23, he said.

Both the UPFA and UNP have failed to cater to people's aspirations in the Province.

They are clamouring for a change and the JVP is fully geared to accept that challenge and propel the Province towards greater prosperity after forming a JVP Council, he added.

People are clamouring for a change and the JVP is fully geared to accept that challenge and to bring about greater prosperity to the Province