'UNP's efforts to take advantage of drought failed'

Tennakoon KULASEKARA

Heavy rains experienced in the North Central Province over the weekend has spoilt UNP's plans to win the forthcoming Provincial Council election by harking on the prolonged drought and its difficulties faced by farmers, said Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena.

He said so at a meeting attended by SLFP activists at the ministry office on Monday in support of former Provincial Council member S M Ranjith. Minister Chandrasena said the UNP had faced defeat at 21 successive elections held for the last 18 years.

Due to the power struggle within the UNP, 45 members elected to Parliament on the UNP ticket had crossed over to the government to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"The UNP leader who knew about the impending defeat of the UNP unsuccessfully sought legal action to prevent the dissolution of the North Central Provincial Council," he said.

"Efforts made by the UNP to take advantage of the drought and hold a protest campaign in league with the JVP by bringing 100,000 farmers to Colombo also ended in failure," he pointed out.

The minister said during the UNP regime farmers ended their lives in frustration due to their inability to sell their produce.