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Jockeying for advantage in big battleground
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By Karuwalagaswewa Jayaratna and Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
The North Western Province is a big stomping ground for politicians casting their eyes for votes in the presidential election.
The Puttalam district was where the SLPP candidate, former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa secured a lead in the 2019 presidential election, obtaining 50.8% of the vote versus the New Democratic Front candidate Sajith Premadasa who garnered 43.9%.
R.K.M Piyasena
This time around, the votes are split in favour of independent candidate, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The NPP and the SJB have been more active on the ground compared to Mr Wickremesinghe.
The three prominent candidates have expressed confidence of gaining a good percentage of the votes.
Amid poverty, conflicts with elephants and farming issues, some voters have made up their minds.
S.H Kumara-singhe, 50, a labourer in Rajanganaya told the Sunday Times that three children, including two adolescent daughters, mean heavy expenses.
His daily income is barely enough and he is no longer eligible for Samurdhi or Aswesuma, he said.
But he plans to vote for Sajith as a mark of gratitude for the late president Ranasinghe Premadasa who had built a house for him nearly 31 years ago.
S.H Kumarasinghe
He said he had been a strong UNP supporter, but favours Mr. Premadasa.
Businessman Ranjith Premasiri of Saliyawewa, Kanda Unda area of Puttalam said the opposition leader as well as the leader of the NPP refused to take responsibility and take charge in the post-aragalaya period.
“People have forgotten the service of Mr Wickremesinghe but, there is much left to do and should be done by Mr Wickremesinghe who braved the challenge,’’ he said, noting his vote is for the incumbent president.
R.K.M Piyasena said that he never consistently supports one party, as he studies the political situation and what people want. His support is for NPP leader Mr. Dissanayake.
According to him, people face conflicts with elephants, as well as drought issues. He called for permanent solutions from the incoming president.
Kurunegala
An SLPP stronghold, where it received 58% of the vote, is no longer such a support base. Instead the SJB candidate who drew 37% of the vote has gained along with the NPP candidate, while Mr Wickremesinghe also has a share of some votes.
Ranjith Premasiri
As the SLFP General secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara, who also had a high number of voters, had extended his support to Mr Premadasa while some of the SJB stalwarts, Ashoka Abeysinghe, Thushara Indunil, Nalin Bandara and J.C. Alawathuwala’s presence have been important.
The Kuliyapitiya area organiser is Akila Viraj Kariywasam, while former minister Anura Priyadharshana from the SLPP has also extended his support to Mr Wickremesinghe.
Namal Rajapaksa also has a small slice of the votes.
However, with 1.4 million votes on offer in the district and nine of the 14 electorates having more than 100,00 registered voters, the main parties are keeping a close eye.
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