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Politicians
and their promises
Politicians who were scarce and almost impossible to contact are
now all out to contact people and offer them their services. And
unlike other years, some of these politicians and their supporters
are calling up people's homes for little chats. Among those who
are using the telephone as a medium of campaigning are Milinda Moragoda
and Ravi Karunanayake but not everyone is welcoming their calls.
They say the last thing they want to hear are more promises, which
are forgotten as soon as election day is over.
Behind
the times?
Several UPFA politicians have been screaming at the top
of their voices at election rallies that President Chandrika Kumaratunga
will continue to hold the office of President for another three
years.
Looks
like they haven't read their party manifesto as yet. It says the
Executive Presidency will be abolished and replaced with a Cabinet
and a parliamentary form of government. Is it déjà
vu 1994?
Lucky
chap
Another UPFA candidate Sarath Amunugama has been using TV air time
he gets through a weekly programme on national TV to advertise the
preference number allotted to him.
Speaking
during the programme last week, Dr.Amunugama said even though he
was a candidate at this week's election, he was presenting a balanced
programme. Then he went on to point to the number he was sporting
on his shirt pocket and say, "Here, I am wearing my number
as well." How many other candidates are so lucky as to get
free advertising?
No
teachers here, but it’s on TV!
President Kumaratunga had a group of students over at President's
House to allow them to discuss issues relating to education. When
it came to the role of teachers, the President went on to explain
how dedicated teachers were during her time in school and felt this
wasn't so nowadays. She asked the students to express their views
freely on the issue as there were no teachers present at that moment
only to be told by one of them that even though they weren't present
there, they would not fail to see it once it's telecast. Since then
the programme has been telecast not once but several times and it's
hard to find anyone who hasn't watched it.
Loud
reception for Miss World
When Miss World Rosanna Davison visited a children's home in Dehiwela
last morning, she was met with a loud reception. The sounds were
emitting from loudspeakers at an adjoining temple where the Jathika
Hela Urumaya was holding a meeting. Organisers of the Beauty Queen's
visit requested Police that something be done to reduce it as it
was interrupting their programme only to be told that the JHU had
got permission to use the loudspeakers. However they said they would
request that the sounds be turned down. The issue was settled with
the sounds turned down and the beauty queen's function continued
uninterrupted.
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