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Party preoccupations come to the fore in election cycle
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
With less than seven weeks left for the presidential election, the main political parties are busy organising their campaigns, which are set to be stepped up after nominations close on August 15.
Seventeen prospective candidates have placed their deposits at the Election Commission by Friday, and more are due to follow over the next few days.
In addition to campaigns, the parties are preparing their manifestos.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe meeting professionals in Jaffna yesterday
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is backed by a section of SLPP ministers and members of parliament, plans to hold over 150 rallies across the country.
Mr. Wickremesinghe’s campaign programme schedule is being drawn up, former UNP minister and assistant party leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said. “We are in the planning phase. There would be small events such as trade union meetings.’’
Since the president is contesting as an independent, an alliance would be formed and there will be a separate political symbol.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) made a cash deposit on behalf of the party leader Sajith Premadasa on Wednesday.
SJB General Secretary, Ranjith Madduma Bandara said the first election rally will be held in Kurunegala on August 16 at 2 p.m. Earlier in the day, a religious programme will be held at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
More rallies and political meetings covering the whole country are planned.
SJB leader Sajith Premadasa attending the SJB Bhikku Advisory Council meeting in Kurunegala
Before the main election rally, a meeting is being held in Polonnaruwa today, while another is to be held at Elpitiya, Galle, next Sunday.
An SJB party spokesman said 100 plus rallies are planned where Mr. Premadasa will attend. Organisers will have 12,000 small-scale meetings covering polling booth areas.
The Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP), too, is making arrangements to announce its candidate. Rallies are being deliberately delayed, with religious activities to be held before the campaigning, a party official said.
Party General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam said the candidate will be named on August 7. About 50 big political rallies are planned in all districts. There will also be 14,000 meetings in villages.
“We had already started our campaign, the only thing was that we would have our rallies after announcing the candidate. We have a lot of internal meetings these days. We will allow our disciplinary board to take action on the ones who extend support to other candidates,” he said. An SLPP source said that the party has organised religious and other activities and will start election rallies from August 21.
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressing teachers in Colombo. Pix by Akila Jayawardena and Eshan Fernando
The National People’s Power (NPP), which is fielding the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has a packed schedule of conventions, rallies, and meetings, alongside events by its women’s organisation.
Member of Parliament Vijitha Herath told the Sunday Times that this week’s programme included a convention for the less abled at the Sri Lanka Foundation institute yesterday, at which the relevant national policy was laid out.
A convention of retired officers of the armed force is being held at P. D Sirisena grounds at 4 p.m. today.
“Our election programme is a mixed one. We have conventions and election programmes in the mix. There is a rally at Embilipitiya next Saturday, August 10,’’ he said.
According to Mr. Herath, the deposit will be made next week.
The NPP plans to officially start its campaign following nominations.
“Our first political rallies will be held after nominations. The first rallies will be held in the south at several locations such as Galle, Matara, and Tangalle simultaneously. With this, we will kick start our official campaigns,” he said.
He said the manifesto is complete and will be launched separately. The NPP had been publicising its policies on various platforms.
The NPP’s women’s organisation has been hosting rallies at electorate level.
A familiar sight: The battle of the posters begin
A faction of the SLFP led by Dayasiri Jayasekara called a meeting yesterday where they decided to extend support to SJB candidate Premadasa.
The Maithripala Sirisena faction extended its support to Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe who is contesting under the National Democratic Front. Mr Rajapakshe paid his deposit on Thursday morning and held his first convention at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.
Ten key members of the SLFP who hold ministerial portfolios (Nimal Siripala faction) have pledged support for President Wickremesinghe.
Lawyer Nuwan Bopage, the candidate fielded by Jana Aragala Sandanaya which is backed by Frontline Socialist party and the activists of Aragalaya said election rallies will be held islandwide.
Mr. Bopage said the next rally is this Sunday, and then in Polonnaruwa on August 10 and at Hambantota the following day.
Some independent candidates, too, have deposited money.
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