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Uva sees campaigns in full swing but many voters remain undecided
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By K.R.Rajamanthri and Palitha Ariyawansa
In the Uva Province consisting of the Badulla and Moneragala Districts, where candidates and their supporters have been campaigning enthusiastically, most voters say they are undecided as yet and will wait until polling date.
Both President Ranil Wickremesinghe and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa are being backed by some stalwarts from the two districts in the Uva province, while the NPP too, has made inroads. Political heavyweights such as minister Nimal Siripala De Silva and Chamara Sampath are backing the President, while MPs Ranjith Maddumabandara and Dilan Perera are supporting the SJB leader.
Badulla district SLPP parliamentarian Sudharshana Denipitiya has decided to support President Wickremesinghe, while another SLPP parliamentarian Rohan Pushpakumara has decided to support Mr. Premadasa.
However, voters are disillusioned due to the fact that most politicians in the districts have been changing loyalties and switching sides and the once political foes have turned friends, while the former friends have turned foe.
In the Provincial Council level the candidates of various districts are split between the different candidates. Because of these new found loyalties and alliances, voters too are confused.
Voters say that there are clearly two camps, one supporting the president and the other favouring Mr. Premadasa, and both sides are campaigning hard.
D. B. Ratnayake
T.M. Muthu Banda, a resident of Sapugolla, Uva-Paranagama, said that during elections in 1988-’89, voters were silent due to fear and this time too, voters are silent.
He said that pocket meetings are being held in villages with supporters of each of the candidates campaigning vigorously. “There are some who say their leader saved the country when it went bankrupt. Others say they will revive the economy or end corruption. Due to these conflicting views, the voters are confused,” Mr Muthu Banda said.
He said many have promised to write off farmer loans.
“Even during former president Chandrika Kumaratunga’s time, farmer loans were written off and then they were given fresh loans. Instead of writing off loans or giving new loans, whoever comes to power must assist farmers with seeds, equipment, fertiliser and so on and stop trying to hoodwink the farmers,” he said.
About 80% of the population in the Uva Province makes a living in the agriculture sector. It is the largest producer of potatoes and other vegetables but state intervention to assist them to develop farms has not been adequate.
D.M. Siriwardena
“We do not get a reasonable price for our vegetables. The same is true of pepper farmers who fight for a decent price. Many are under financial stress. We don’t care who wins the election. We hope that whoever wins will develop the country without fooling the public,” he said.
D.M. Siriwardena is a businessman and newspaper agent in Bogahakumbura, Welimada. He is also engaged in farming for an additional income and comes into contact with people of different walks of life.
“People are silent about this presidential election. However, prominent politicians from the area are very active canvassing votes for their candidate. I think there is a close fight between the President and Mr. Premadasa while the NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake has also gained some support from the people. It is difficult to say which way the silent voters will go,” he said.
Mr. Siriwardena said it is difficult to gauge the support for a particular candidate by looking at rallies. “Some people are curious to see the candidate in person while others like to enjoy a free ride to town where rallies are being held.’’
T.M. Muthu Banda
D. B. Ratnayake, chairman of the Uva-Paranagama Development Foundation of the Gampaha Korale, said there is no enthusiasm among the voters. “The disillusioned villagers say that they don’t care who becomes president as there would be no change in their lives.’’
He said that in addition to the many woes that farmers face, there are also issues with water supply and crop destruction caused by monkeys and elephants.
They feel that whoever wins, their agriculture issues will continue.
Meanwhile, in Monaragala, where 399,166 votes are on offer, the NPP has been carrying out a strong campaign mainly to obtain the support of former SLPP members. However, meetings held by Sajith Preamdasa and President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the district too, have attracted crowds.
Independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe's rally in Mahiyanganaya
NPP rally in Badulla
SJB rally in Wellawaya
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