Elections 2001

Polythene bags, caps and cutouts dangle in the campaign trail

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

With the allocation of preference numbers, many candidates have looked for novel ways to advertise themselves, with the Western province candidates going high-tech on an experimental scale.

Veering away from the usual banner and poster, Colombo district UNP candidate Milinda Moragoda has abstained from putting up posters. He has restricted himself to advertising on the electronic and print media. Some of his advertisements have blank space with his name underneath.

PA's Nawalage Bennet Cooray has some plastic and polythene bags bearing his name and picture while several former parliamentarians have opted to print some their speeches in booklet form and distributing them to voters.

UNP assistant leader Gamini Atukorale has resorted to newspaper advertisements carrying his photograph, preference number and a telling phrase: "The only way to recall wisdom is by the use of elephantine force." 

Colombo district PA candidate and former Sri Lankan test cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga's supporters claim the poster campaign would be supplemented by the distribution of blue cricket caps bearing the candidate's name and preference number.

United National Front candidate Dayasiri Jayasekera hopes to be one of the most innovative candidates regarding campaign strategies. In addition to digital cutouts, he has organized a daily bicycle parade and skits on the streets. 

Matara district UNP candidate Sagala Ratanayaka has organized a video display at each meeting, digital cutouts and pens bearing his name and preference number.

Acceding to Deputy Media Minister Alavi Moulana the PA appears to be determined to move away from the preference warfare and give lists of candidates to ensure party victory than individual success.

He said in most districts group posters were likely to come up with the names and numbers as the publication of the preference numbers was a legal requirement. "We are trying to refrain from having individual campaigns to ensure party victory and prevent rivalries among candidates. Our objective is to win the election," he said adding that only the affluent candidates could afford a fresh election campaign.

Wimal Weerawansa's publicity secretary told The Sunday Times the JVP abhorred the preference warfare created by the 1978 Constitution which brought out the animal instincts in candidates. 

"We don't wish to advertise individuals but the party. Our concentration will be on issues rather than posters, sets and props," he said.

With most candidates feeling the pinch after expensive campaigning on October last year seem to concentrate on low intensity and inexpensive campaigns.

CID drops demand to meet lawyer

Senior partner of Samararatna Associates, Attorneys-at-Law, Asoka Samararatna was Friday served with a 'notice' by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to call at the CID's '5th floor', the Fraud Detection Unit 3, at the police headquarters to provide information on the whereabouts of the wife of former Samurdhi and Sports Minister S.B. Dissanayake, now a leading campaigner for the opposition.

Ms. .Dissanayake is wanted by the police in connection with an alleged fraudulent acquisition of state land case. Samararatna Associates appear on her behalf.

Senior counsel for Asoka Samararatna, Kolitha Dharmawardane, has responded the same day to the Director CID quoting Section 126 (1) of the Evidence Ordinance which precluded a practising lawyer from divulging confidential information about his or her client to any person or authority except in 'very exceptional circumstances'.

However, Mr. Dharmawardene's letter had assured all necessary co-operation upon the client's return after obtaining medical treatment abroad. 

Earlier, the police had visited the law firm in a bid to obtain the information they had wanted. Having failed to obtain such information, they resorted to sending what lawyers said was an illegal notice.

Party manifestos in a nutshell

Solving North-East conflict: JVP's priority 

The JVP's election manifesto released this week has given priority to solve the North-East conflict and to stabilise the economy.

It said the JVP would insist on the LTTE to denounce the demand for a separate state before starting talks. 

This marked a departure from the traditional approach to the problem adopted by the PA and the UNP.

"Equality will be given top priority. Those who fled the North and East should be resettled and allowed to lead a normal life," the manifesto said.

The JVP has rejected the policies followed by the PA, the UNP and Tamil political parties which had failed to achieve any solution to the problem. 

The manifesto said the JVP would safeguard the country from outside threats and maintain its territorial integrity.

In the economic sphere the party has vowed to lure more foreign investors and introduce new techniques adopted by developing countries. Meanwhile, the JVP has vowed to bring in the controversial Worker's Charter shelved by the People's Alliance government. 

In the education sphere the party would reintroduce literature and history in the school curriculum to improve the standards of the student population, the manifesto said.