Nominations for the Two Provincial Councils Over - No major incidents

Jul 4, 2008 Source: Asian Tribune

The elections secretariat anounced that provincial council’s elections for the north central and sabaragamuwa provinces will take place on the 23rd of next month. Political parties already filed their nomination papers for the North Central Provincial Council and the Sabaragamuwa Provinicial Council. A number of Independent groups also submitted their nomination papers and there is no major incidents reported from these provinces. A special Police teams are now roaming in these provinces but opposition claims a number of armed groups, especially crades of the Pillayan group are also roaming in some parts of the Polonnaruwa district. At present around 15 TMVP camps are located in the Polonnaruwa district, said our sources. Meanwhile the government has decided to include Upali Wijekoon to contest in the NCP election, the only survivor of LTTE bomb blast that killed Lt. General Denzil Kobekaduwa and Major General Wijaya Wimalarathna in Kayts in 1992. Mr. Wijekoon who lost his legs in the attack, met the President at the Temple Trees on Wednesday and stated that he would contest the election to give value to all those who made such sacrifices for the security of the country. However UNPs Chief Ministerial candidate for the NCP Major General Janaka Perera said that despite pressure being brought on him from various sectors to refrain from contesting in the NCP and to accept a high post abroad instead, he would under no circumstances change his decision. He said the UNP victory at the NCP elections is a foregone conclusion and after that victory the word Rajarata would once again echo internationally. "I have fought for this country and achieved several victories. We must fight this election like gentlemen, said the retired Major General at a press conference. "When I was fighting the terrorists there were no threats to my wife or children. But now those who dislike my contesting the elections are threatening my wife and children not to allow me to contest, he said. Meanwhile General Perera's posters are still displaying along the Colombo Roads. The UPFA has handed over nominations for the Anuradhapura district in the north central provincial council election at the Anuradhapura district secretariat on Friday . After handing over the nominations former chief minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake said large numbers of leading members of the UNP and JVP in the north central province are joining the alliance. The handing over of nominations for the Sabaragamuwa provincial council has ended on Friday. The United People’s Freedom Alliance, the United National Party and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna contest all four districts where the elections are being held. Returning officers said 12 recognized political parties and seven independent groups compete for the Anuradhapura district in the north central provincial councils. Ten political parties and 8 independent groups contest the Polonanruwa district. Nine recognized political parties and 12 independent groups compete for the Kegalle district in the Sabaragamuwa provincial councils. The Up-country People’s Front and the Ceylon Workers Congress are among the recognized political parties contesting the election. 12 political parties and 9 independent groups contest the Rathnapura district. Source of the article