PC polls:

UPFA claims no fight

Rasika Somarathna

The United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) yesterday claimed that they were yet to encounter any viable opposition, in their campaign trail for stakes in the Central and Northwestern Provincial Council elections.

SLFP General Secretary, Minister Maithripala Sirisena said the UNP today was finding it difficult, to get even its ardent supporters to back up their polls campaign.In contrast the UPFA campaign was in full swing with door to door campaigns giving the initial push to reach out to 25 per cent of the Sri Lankan voters, spanning the five districts.The mega rallies would follow later with President Mahinda Rajapaksa attending five meetings in Matale, Maskeliya, Nathandiya, Kurunegala and Kandy and 10 are to be conducted in identified locations in five districts, under Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka.

UPFA General Secretary, Minister Susil Premajayantha said the party had already established steering committees in all the polling divisions in addition to district co-ordinating officers.

He also added that in the upcountry the CWC and UPFA were engaged in a very productive campaign targeting the Estate Community.

In addition the other stakeholders of the UPFA are conducting campaigns with similar vigour in all five districts the, Minister added. The Minister also claimed that the UNP today was on the verge of total bankruptcy, as many of their members were joining the UPFA enmasse. Thirty six UNP PS members from Kandy had joined the UPFA recently and in Kurunegala and Puttalam too the same trend prevails with scores of UNPers leaving ranks to join UPFA, the Minister added.

The media briefing held at the Mahaweli Centre yesterday was also attended by Wimal Weerawansa, MP of the NFF and Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara of the UNP(D).