‘UPFA will win 41% of votes in Eastern Province’

Nadira Gunatilleke

Seventeen days ago the UPFA vote stood at 33 percent of votes in the Eastern Province but by August 1 this percentage has increased to 41 per cent.

The UNP will exceed 10 percent of votes only in one electorate in the Eastern Province. The UPFA challenges the UNP to win four electorates in the Eastern Province, SLFP treasurer and Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

Minister Alahapperuma said a most recent survey conducted Aug. 31 revealed that the UPFA will win all electoral constituencies in the Sabaragamuwa (17) and North Central Provinces (10). “According to the survey, the UNP will only manage around 30 per cent of votes in two electoral constituencies in Sabaragamuwa,” he said.

The minister said the UPFA will record a resounding victory in all electorates in the North Central Province and the UNP will obtain over 30 per cent of votes only in one electorate. Addressing the final UPFA press briefing at the Mahaweli Center, Colombo yesterday Minister Alahapperuma said the UPFA will have a challenge only in four electorates in the Eastern Province. The UPFA will capture power in the Eastern Province.

‘This time the people in the Eastern Province will send the Opposition’s tribal slogans to hell. The UPFA gave hopes to the people of a new country. The public will use this election to give a resounding slap to separatism and separatists.

‘The UPFA request the public to celebrate the victory without causing any heartache to the defeated parties.

UPFA General Secretary and Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha said this is the first time the main political parties are contesting on their own at the PC election. Ensuring the people’s right to life is the best gift given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Now people living in (then border villages) say that they can sleep in their homes at night. Earlier they slept in jungles. Now agricultural and fishing activities are being conducted smoothly. All hotel rooms in the Eastern Province are full now. The UNP will get them to fourth place. There is no fuel shortage whatsoever. Fuel is available for two months. This so called fuel shortage is a fabricated story created by certain trade unions attached to certain political parties in order to create long fuel queues, get the photographs of them, and publish them in newspapers during this election time.

Jathika Hela Urumaya General Secretary and Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said the people will give an Avihinsa answer to Hilary Clinton, David Cameroon, Jayalalitha, Karunanidhi and all on September 8.

Even though the JHU does not contest at this PC election, it extends its fullest support to the UPFA.

This is a time that elements which promote separatism carry on a huge campaign against the Sri Lankan Government stating that we violated International laws during the humanitarian operation and the people living in the Eastern Province are suppressed by Armed Forces. But the people will answer this and the elements which try to drag the country into the past. There is no doubt about that. The people will select water, electricity and carpeted roads and reject death, tears and cemeteries. The A 15 road will be developed and it will become better than the Galle Road.

Four economic centres are to be set up at Colombo, Kalpitiya, Hambantota and Trincomalee. The Tricomalee beach to be developed similar to Busan beach in Korea. Electricity supply to the area will be increased up to 100 percent by providing solar power kits.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Rajitha Senaratne said there is no competition for the UPFA in the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provinces. Late UNP leaders, such as, D.S.Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, J.R.Jayewardene must be feeling ashamed (from wherever they are now) for what has happened to the UNP. All UNP provincial leaders are climbing the UPFA stages. A majority of them are Tamils. A certainTNA MP is still delivering the same speech he delivered 20 years ago.

A total of Rs.412 million had been spent on developing the fisheries sector in the Eastern Province.

Technology and Research Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha said that there is no need to talk about the UNP because they are not in the race. The SLMC and TNA are cultivating and promoting racism. But all the people are in favour of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The opposition political parties are lodging fabricated ‘complaints’ in order to escape from their certain defeat.