Presidential election most free and fair - SB

Sanjaya Asela Maturata and L.S. Egodawita

The January 26 Presidential election is the most free and fair election held in Sri Lanka in recent times where there was no impersonation or stuffing of ballot boxes said Udunuwara SLFP Organiser and former Opposition Leader of the Central Provincial Council S.B. Dissanayake.

Dissanayake said so addressing a meeting of the Yatinuwara SLFP Central Organisation at Urapola Sri Abhayaraja Piriven Viharaya, Pilimatalawa.

Dissanayake said that from the day this years Presidential election was announced the Elections Commissioner stood firm against all election malpractices. The Commissioner granted almost all requests made by the Opposition and sometimes took decisions even detrimental to the government party in acceding to opposition requests.

Dissanayake said that however there had been several unfair and undemocratic elections in the country in the past. The first such unfortunate election was the 1981 District Development Council election held in Jaffna.

That election was one of the causes which plunged the country to a 30 year terrorist war.

Dissanayake said the next fraudulent election was the 1982 referendum at which even the vote of opposition challenger Hector Kobbekaduwa was cast by an impersonator.

The next fraudulent election was the Wayamba Provincial election held under the tenure of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Dissanayake said that although Opposition Presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka cried foul about the recently concluded Presidential Council election all other party leaders who supported him in their heart of hearts knew that it was a very fair and free election contrary to their public outcries.

He said the majority of people had re-elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a mark of gratitude for liberating the country from terrorism. He said poverty would be totally eliminated and per capita income further increased during the next five to six years.