District summits to steer UPFA campaign

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The first district summit of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in connection with the 2011 Local Government Election will be held in Anurdhapura on February 28.

Minister Maithripala Sirisena

It will be held under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. These Summits will be held in all districts. The final summit will be in Hambantota on March 14,SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

Addressing the weekly press briefing at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium yesterday Minister Sirisena said that the UPFA will not organize mass election rallies for the 2011 LG Polls.

Only summits will take place covering all districts. The Government does not need to hold mass election rallies to win the election. People will vote for the Government. Pocket meetings, distributing leaflets, etc will take place as usual, the Minister said.

The Minister pointed out that the Opposition Leader has gone abroad as usual leaving the election campaign to his fellow party members.

”He stays in the country only when he himself is contesting an election. Otherwise he leaves the country and enjoys a holiday abroad. The internal conflict in the Opposition has reached its climax and the entire UNP election campaign has become a flop as usual. The UNP does not have a vote base at all,” Sirisena said.

The Opposition says the people should not get trapped in the government’s illegal activities but it is the UNP which has the darkest past in the Sri Lankan election history. The UNP violated election laws since 1977. It has a shameful past with throwing ballot boxes into the sea and playing the `Lamps and Pots’ Game. It strengthened the LTTE and won them global recognition. The Opposition Leader signed an agreement with a terrorist leader dividing the country legally creating a historical event in world history, Minister said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa saved the country within four years and made history by launching large scale development programs.

Building international airports, harbours, highways and power projects are among them. The Opposition Leader is aware of these developments.

The country needs an Opposition Leader who loves his Motherland, the Minister added.