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Election campaign picks up tempo, heavyweights join the fray
View(s):Local council elections are considered a third tier political contest, yet the campaign for the February 10 polls have picked up tempo even before the nominations ended on Thursday — with major political parties fielding heavyweights in what is seen as the first test of strength after the new government came into office in January 2015.
Former ministers, former parliamentarians and ex-provincial council members have entered the fray to ensure victory for their respective parties.
A significant feature of the campaign is the rivalry between candidates who contested the last elections on the SLFP-led United People’s Freedom Alliance. Several of them are contesting on the newly formed Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ticket.
Former UPFA minister Gunaratna Weerakoon is contesting for the Karandeniya Pradeshiya Sabhawa from the same party. Asked why he had to do it, he said if former President Mahinda Rajapaksa could contest parliamentary elections, he saw no reason why he should not.
As usual, the cynosure of the local polls is the contest for the Colombo Municipal Council. Major political parties are fielding prominent politicians for the must-win contest. The United National Party is fielding former state minister Rosy Senanayake as its mayoral candidate, while the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is putting forward former Provincial Councillor and deputy mayor Azath Sally as its main candidate. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) backed by the ‘Joint Opposition’ has fielded a mixture of candidates who include the council’s former Chief Medical Officer Dr Pradeep Kariyawasam, and former UNP provincial councillor Anurada Wimalaratne.
For the Dehiwala Municipal Council, former Mayor Dhanasiri Amaratunga is contesting as the SLPP’s mayoral candidate. He contested the previous election on the UPFA ticket.
The Moratuwa Municipal Council’s former Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, who contested the last election on the UPFA ticket, is coming forward as the SLPP’s mayoral candidate.
For the Galle Municipal council, former UPFA Mayor Methsiri de Silva is coming from the same alliance which is headed by President Maithripala Sirisena, while his opponent Kelum Seneviratne, also a former mayor, is contesting on the SLPP ticket.
In the Ampara district, the main contest is for the Ampara Urban Council where former chairman Indika Nalin, contesting on the UPFA ticket, is challenged by SLPP candidate and ex-deputy mayor Chaminda Sugath.
For the Jaffna Municipal Council the Illankai Thamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has fielded former Provincial Council member S. Arnold as its mayoral candidate while the SLPP’s list for the council was rejected. The UNP and the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) are also in the fray for the Jaffna MC and several councils in the Northern Province.
Also contesting the northern councils are the SLPP, the JVP and the All Ceylon Tamil Congress. For the Kilinochchi district local councils, 12 rehabilitated LTTE cadres are contesting on the ITAK ticket.
As this election is being held on the mixed electoral system of first-past-the-post and proportional representation, major parties have given priority to candidates who are popular in their respective wards.
The campaign for the polls began soon after nominations ended on Thursday. The Elections Department and Police have said they would enforce the law strictly to prevent violence and violations of election laws.
Polls monitors have recorded a few incidents throughout the country and said there was no major cause for concern yet.
In one of the incidents in Nuwara Eliya, the police failed to stop a motorcade with party flags as it approached the premises of the Elections Department Office.
However, an Elections Department official halted the motorcade and warned them that if they defied the orders, a directive would be issued to detain the vehicles.
Matara Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Sagala Rathnayaka and MP Buddika Pathirana arriving to hand over the UNP nomination lists
Bentara Elpitiya
JR s grand son Pradeep Jayawardane (left)