Elections

• Minority votes crucial - Uva Province
• Least violence in this province - Western Province
• Wives of politicos in the fray - North Central Province
• It is a three-cornered contest - Sabaragamuwa Province
• Central Province tops incidents - Central Province
• Election news in brief

Uva Province

Minority votes crucial

After a round of hectic election campaigning in the Uva Province a keen contest between the main parties was on the cards with the votes of the estate Tamils being the deciding factor.

District Secretary Badulla, W.M.A Wijekoon said all election arrangements had been completed. "On April 30 a final discussion was held with all the candidates, and they were requested to help hold a peaceful election, he said.

Election duty officers have already been deployed and vehicles made available, he said.

For the 463,000 voters in the Badulla district 465 polling stations have been set up. There are 44 counting centres and four postal vote counting centres.

District Secretary, Moneragala P.G. Amarakoon said all arrangements were being completed except for some vehicles which are expected to arrive from Ampara and Hambantota.

Clerks, teachers and other staff would be deployed to support the election duty officers.

The Moneragala district has a total of 224,077 voters. There are 259 polling booths and 22 counting centres, inclusive of the three postal vote counting centres.

All security arrangements have been completed in the Province, Uva Range DIG Daya Jayasundara said. "There is enough cadre to enable elections to be held in a peaceful manner.

The Army is available as a standby and will be deployed if the need arises. Not a single election related incident has been reported in the province," he said.

But election monitoring officials stated that lately there have been incidents reported from the province.

Both the PA and the UNP have held mass rallies in the Uva province. Mr. Samaraweera Weerawanni whose name is not in the nomination list is being promoted as the Chief Minister of the PA.

The UNP is not certain about their chief ministerial candidate. Mr. Kuruppayya Velayutham who was to contest as the main candidate after the death of former Chief Minister Percy Samaraweera has not received support from some party members. Thus the party has yet not confirmed their chief ministerial candidate.

Other candidates contesting for the chief minister's post are, Rohitha Thilakaratne from the JVP and Nandasena Herath from the MEP.

Mr. Thilakaratne said that everything looked good. "We have held many rallies.

"We have also held 300 to 400 pocket meetings where we discuss with the people their problems and the ways of overcoming them" he said.

He said 53% of the people in the province were poor, many of them being farmers. He promised to make available the necessities of the poor farmers.

Regarding the problem of families living in line rooms, Mr. Thilakaratne said, "we shall create a small village providing shelter for each family which is now cramped into just one room".

"All this could be achieved even now provided that the Officials in the provincial councils don't spend money for their personal purposes. Money is spent on buying luxury cars for themselves and nothing else," he said. adding more than his winning the elections, he would be happier if his party wins.

Meanwhile, residents in the province gave mixed responses about the situation prevailing there.

D.M.S. Jayawardana a social worker and a resident of Badulla says both the PA and UNP have done very little or no work in the province. "UNP campaigning does not seem to be a success although the PA and JVP campaigns appear to be successful. The JVP has a good response in the province", he said.

Another resident, S. Perera, a pensioner, said, "the situation is not very intense. Pamphlets and leaflets are issued as usual and it is quite calm."

Western Province

Least violence in this province

With less than forty incidents of violence reported according to organisations monitoring election violence, the Western Province has proved to be one of the most peaceful provinces.

According to officials at People's Action for Free and Fair Elections, the Western Province has managed to keep violence under control. Except for six attempted murders and one killing in Moratuwa last week, the record remains relatively clean.

All chief ministerial candidates are optimistic of winning the elections.

"A UNP survey has revealed that the chances of a UNP victory are very high although we do not wish to state the exact percentage of votes we expect to win," UNP's Chief Minister candidate Karu Jayasuriya.

The UNP promises clean, efficient and transparent administration moving away from the confrontational politics. While it also promises that resources will be made use of to the fullest to ensure better facilities.

The PA too claims it is confident of winning the province though fears have been expressed in some quarters regarding a slight slide in its popularity in some areas.

At a recent meeting presided by PA chief ministerial candidate Susil Premejayanth, candidates were told that although the PA campaign was lagging behind the UNP campaign, they had successfully caught up with the UNP by last week.

The JVP however, is off the beaten track in its campaign. Its promises include a declaration that funds allocated for the use of the provincial councils would not be utilized for personal requirements of council members. They also hope to establish a fund to support the needy within the provincial council.

"We do not wish to make this our livelihood, but we will serve the people as volunteers. We would not allow any form of malpractice as long as we are a part of the council. This is what we promise the public," said JVP's Chief Ministerial candidate Wimal Weerawansa.

He was confident that the JVP stands a good chance of entering the provincial council this year.

The MEP's main candidate Bandula Gunawardena, who is a popular tuition master, and the New Left Front's main candidate Wickremebahu Karunaratne also expressed hopes of winning a few seats.

The Western province Council has 102 seats of which 43 would be from Colombo, 36 from Gampaha and 23 from Kalutara.

At the last provincial elections, the PA secured 43 seats with the UNP securing 41 and the JVP 17 and the SLMC 1.

North Central Province

Wives of politicos in the fray

An interesting tussle is on the cards in the North Central Province as two women candidates encouraged by their politico-husbands, are in the fray from the main parties.

They are Rani Adikari, wife of UNP strongman A.M.S. Adikari and Jayani Tissera Dissanayake, wife of Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake.

The PA has announced that it plans to nominate Minister Dissanayake for the post of Chief Minister in the event of a PA victory. But this has already caused tremors in some quarters with the question being raised whether such a move is constitutionally correct.

The UNP has put forward Jayasena Dissanayake, the former chief minister of the province as its main candidate.

The North Central Province although dotted with pocket meetings appears to be preparing for the forthcoming PC elections in rather a disinterested way.

"It is harvesting time and the people are more interested in getting about their work in the fields rather than getting involved in politics," said Ranjith from Anuradhapura summing up the mood.

"The JVP wields a certain amount of power, because the people have got tired of the two main options. There are many pocket meetings. The people feel that since both the central government and the president are PA, the provincial council will also go to the PA," Ranjith added.

A worker at the Water Board in Anuradhapura town who wished to remain anonymous said, "there is not much interest in the election. At the beginning there were some meetings but the competition is more for the preference votes. They go from house to house campaigning for the preference votes. The people just say anything to get rid of them."

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent M. B. Raban, Director of the Police Elections Secretariat, describing the atmosphere in the North Central Province said that so far the situation was comparatively good as the number of incidents recorded was much less than in Colombo.

However, the Anuradhapura District Co-ordinator for Election Activity, and former UNP MP, Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, in a three page letter to the Inspector General of Police alleges that no action has been taken by the police in the Anuradhapura District todate in instances in which PA supporters resorted to aggression.

K.D. Lal Kantha, the JVP's chief ministerial candidate for the NCP, said they were having a hard time with regard to campaign work, as the PA supporters were disrupting their activities. He alleged it was not just a case of the JVP being targeted but in general all the parties were being subjected to this harassment by PA supporters.

According to the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) the number of incidents that have taken place in the North Central Province is 178. Therefore, according to CMEV statistics, the lowest number of incidents are in the North Central Province.

At the Provincial Council Elections held in the NCP in 1993, the UNP won 16 seats, the PA 11, the DUNLF 3 and the SLMC 1.

Sabaragamuwa Province

It is a three-cornered contest

Election fever is hotting up in the Sabaragamuwa Province with stiff competition among the three main political parties — the PA, the UNP and the JVP.

While candidates are competing against each other the people of Sabaragamuwa seem to be playing a not so active part.

However in some remote areas, villagers felt they needed a change and may prefer the JVP. But one has to wait for the outcome.

The PA has promised to appoint Deputy Minister Athauda Seneviratne as its chief minister in the event of victory while the UNP has fielded Jayathilake Podinilame as its chief ministerial candidate and the JVP has named Ajith Kumara who was convicted in the Parliament grenade attack case in 1987.

While all three parties have adopted different stands, it is the JVP that stands out. Throughout its election campaign, it has laid emphasis on the eradication of corruption, which it feels is prevalent in the two main parties.

The JVP conducts its campaign with pocket meetings at village level and street dramas. The Sabaragamuwa Province comprising Ratnapura and Kegalle districts has over one million voters.

There will be 528 polling booths in Ratnapura, with 52 counting centres. There will be 5000 officers on duty in Ratnapura.

Kegalle District has a total of 444 polling booths , to serve the 528,000 voters.

The province has a 42 seats with 23 in the Ratnapura district and 19 in the Kegalle district.

At the 1993 elections the UNP secured 22 of seats against 14 for the PA. The

DUNLF obtained five seats and the NSSP one.

ASP Peramuna who is in charge of security in the Sabaragamuwa Province told The Sunday Times that there will be about 3000 police personnel on election duty under the direction of an SP and an ASP.

There will also be riot squads and at least 20 PCs on duty. More than 90 mobile patrol units will also be there, he said.

Election related violence reported in the Sabaragamuwa Province was low compared to Wayamba with the most serious incident being Wednesday's attack on the main JVP candidate Ajith Kumara.

He was attacked in Mawanella by a group of armed men when his supporters were staging a street drama. Nine people were seriously injured and five hospitalised.

Central Province

Central Province tops incidents

With keen interest among politicians to take control of the Central Provincial Council the number of complaints against each other and incidents have been on the rise in the run up to the elections.

The Central Province is so far only one of two provinces to have already recorded a murder, with the suspects not yet being given bail.

Already the Centre for Monitoring Election violence (CMEV) has recorded 1281 incidents of election related violence, with more than a quarter of the incidents being the highest number being reported from the Central Province.

The PA appears to be the alleged perpetrator of more than half of the 344 incidents and the UNP the alleged perpetrator of 83 incidents.

A large number of the incidents in the Central Province centre on threats and intimidation, petty mischief, assault, poster related violence, damage to property, robbery and arson.

The Central Province has about 1.4 million voters with the largest number being from the Kandy district. Over 1300 polling booths and 130 counting centres have been set up and 10,500 officials deployed for duty.

Given the general attitude of apathy among the public, many say it is hard to predict if the UNP which was in power will be returned.

In the last Provincial Council, the UNP held 30 of the 57 seats with 14 from the Kandy district, 6 from Matale and 10 from Nuwara Eliya. The PA held 15 seats, with 9 from Kandy, 3 from Matale and 3 from Nuwara Eliya. The DUNLF held a total of 9 seats, with 5 from Kandy, 2 from Matale and 2 from Nuwara Eliya.

The main candidates from the UNP for the Central Province are former Chief Minister W.P.B. Dissanayake and Keheliya Rambukwella from Kandy, Aluvihare Sali Nissanka from Matale and Vadivel Puthirasigamani and Wimal Sisira Bandara Ranaweera, husband of Renuka Herath, former Minister of Health and Women's Affairs, from Nuwara Eliya.

The JVP is fielding Anura Kumara Dissanayake who is also the leader of the party in Matale as its Chief Ministerial candidate, Dimuthu Bandara Abeykoon from Kandy and C.K.B.N. Weerasinghe from Nuwara Eliya.

Mr. Dissanayake said one of the first things he would do if elected to office is to ensure that more funds are available, instead of allowing them to be siphoned off due to corruption at the higher levels. 'The Central Province is missing out on a lot of benefits because a substantial amount of money allocated never gets used for the purposes they are meant for. I have a lot of plans to develop the province and I plan to ensure that all the money allocated to the province will be made available for the purposes they are meant for', he said.

Mr. Dissanayake said he also plans to target the development of the agricultural community which is at the moment not very well off.

He said that considering the fact that the province is important agriculturally priority should be given to the welfare of the farmers.

"Right now the government is only concerned in helping the farmer until he harvests the crop. Other considerations such as collecting the harvest, transport, storage and marketing are also equally important. Much of the harvest gets wasted because of improper storage and inadequate transport facilities. If facilities are improved everybody will automatically benefit," he said.

UNP Chief Ministerial candidate W.P.B. Dissanayake said he hopes to continue implementing the rolling plan for development which he has already implemented during his last term in office. 'I will give priority to education, health, agriculture, animal husbandry and cottage industries. I also had a detailed study done on suitable employment opportunities in agriculture based industries. Roads and welfare will also be given priority according to the funds available', he said.

Ironically, although many benefits are being promised to the people, public does not share the optimism expressed by various officials.

Election news in brief

Moratuwa:

In a home- and- home war over the infamous 'manapes', a PA supporter was killed allegedly by another group of PA supporters here last Thursday.

It is alleged that the incident took place when the victim tried to remove posters of PA candidate Nauser Fowzie, son of Minister A.H. M. Fowzie. Onlookers have been frightened off by a group of PA thugs who have allegedly knifed the man for daring to remove some posters of Fowzie Jr.

Moneragala:

Though very much underdeveloped, Moneragala has become a hotbed of political activity, villainy included. Clashes between PA groups have been reported throughout with one deputy minister campaigning for her son and another, for his younger sister.

Reportedly, the desire to cull the maximum number of preferences has been the driving force and the two deputies, both representing Moneragala have declared war on each other- what with ministerial vehicles and Colombo canvassing agents taking the dry zone by storm.

Badulla:

The Uva province, once a stronghold of the UNP is somewhat lacking leadership with the death of former chief minister Percy Samaraweera.

Within a fortnight, the PA campaign has taken an upward trend in an area they have always been weak in, with the 'maha huras' of the Veddah community pledging their support for the 'chair' which legally recognized their right to hunt in the forest reserves.

The 21-year-old son of a minister has joined the fray and a local UNP leader has allegedly put up posters, surprisingly, in his favour. But the young politico checked with authorities claiming that he was not responsible for the colourful poster, which defaced many walls and contravened election laws.

Colombo:

Candidates from the Western Province obviously have more money to throw, judging by the cutouts and the costly campaigning.

And many are the virtuous men (and women) from both main parties listing their virtues — carrots to the gullible voter.

A popular candidate from the PA canvassing on Friday was in for a rude shock, with residents from a certain area in Mt. Lavinia declaring that they would only vote for people 'who do not deface walls, cause traffic jams or pollute the air'. And that sure ended that part of the campaign.

Anuradhapura:

It is reported that a plan is under way to threaten and scare voters living in the border villages in the Anuradhapura District on election day or the day prior to polling.

Former UNP MP Gamini Jayawickrema Perera told the IGP in a letter that already the voters in the Nochchiyagama, Vilachchiya and Madyama Nuwara polling areas were being threatened.

Katugastota:

A Central Province PA candidate's residence was showered with stones on March 30.

It had been reported to the Katugastota Police that the residence of M.H. Maharoof, at Siyambalagasthenna, Katugastota, had been attacked in the night allegedly by UNP supporters.

Dr. Maharoof and his co-ordinating secretary H. Wijeratne were also hurt in this incident.

Kegalle:

The jeep of Kegalle Pradeshiya Sabha Member, W.S. Ashoka Wasantha Kumara of the UNP was attacked at Rambukkana on March 29.

The windscreen of the vehicle was damaged and it was reported to the Police that PA supporters had allegedly been responsible for the attack.

The MP and a cop-JP

An officer in charge of a police station in the outskirts of Colombo has been appointed a Justice of the Peace.

If that is unusual, the fact that his name has been recommended by the local MP makes it unacceptable.

According to Police Administration in very rare circumstances Gazetted officers of the rank of ASP and above are made JPs. This officer happens to be of the rank of a chief Inspector.

Making matters worse is the fact that this OIC is also entrusted with the task of making an impartial inquiry into political rivalries within his area.

The unholy alliance between the local MP and the police inspector gets further credence by this exercise. Nepotism and the local MP story is nothing new.

The MP has recommended his son also as an all-island JP.

Balagalle Chief of Staff

Major General Lionel Balagalle has been named the Sri Lanka Army's Chief of Staff. He will assume office on April 8.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Commander-in Chief, has approved a recommendation by the Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya, that Maj. Gen. Balagalle should also continue as Security Forces Commander in the Wanni.

Major General Janaka Perera, until last week General Officer Commanding the Army's 23 Division (east) has been appointed Deputy Chief of Staff. His place in the east is being taken by Major General Chula Seneviratne.

The post of Chief of Staff fell vacant on April 1 with the retirement of Maj. Gen. Patrick Fernando.

Army Headquarters has also made a series of other changes. Major General Parami Kulatugna (currently) Deputy GOC -54 Division) has been named officiating Director General, General Staff (DGGS). He is being succeeded by Brigadier Egodawala, the current Military Secretary.

Brigadier Sunil Tennekoon, has been appointed Military Secretary in addition to his post as military spokesman.

Major General Susil Chandrapala has been named General Officer Commanding the Army's One Division headquartered at Panagoda. He relieves Maj. Gen. Neil Dias who will continue as Operations Commander, Colombo.

Brigadier Kumbhan Bohran has been named to take over as GOC-55 Division with Brigadier Colvin Jayaratne as his deputy.

Supplies to uncleared areas resume

By S.S.Selvanayagam

Relief supplies to the uncleared Wanni areas resumed yesterday after humanitarian operations were disrupted in the wake of the 'Rana Gosa' military operation.

A convoy of 20 lorries loaded with food supplies and other rations set out for the uncleared areas yesterday and another 20 lorries would go there tomorrow with ICRC escort, Vavuniya's Government Agent K.Ganesh told The Sunday Times.

It is learnt the ICRC has obtained clearance from both the security forces and the LTTE on the route to be used to send relief supplies.

Targeting tycoons

Police say several abductions in recent times

Top businessmen take precautions, hire bodyguards

By Chris Kamalendran & Ayesha R. Rafiq

While top business magnates, shocked by Tuesday's abduction of a company director, are taking a wide range of precautions, including hiring of body guards, police say that it was not the first kidnap case in recent times.

Several businessmen have hired the services of private security firms to guard their homes and curtailed their movements as an immediate measure to avoid becoming the next victim after leading business magnate G.C. Wickremasinghe, former chairman of the Aitken Spence Group of companies, was kidnapped and released by a gang for a ransom of Rs. 20 million.

As the kidnap case was being investigated by three police teams, including a top level CID team, police told The Sunday Times this was not the first abduction case reported from the Cinnamon Gardens area.

A police officer who did not want to be named said similar cases had taken place within the area and some of them had not been even reported to the police as the victims did not want to prolong the trauma or did not want sources of their income being exposed. Moreover, they would have felt that making the incident public would encourage other gangs to get involved in kidnappings, he said.

The officers said that in some of the cases the ransom demanded was as large as Rs. 100 million.

In some cases, the police said no breakthrough could be made even after they narrowed down their suspicion on certain persons, because the victims did not cooperate with the police.

Hours after Tuesday's abduction drama at Ward Place — the first case which was made public — business circles took steps to beef up security around them, but none of them was willing to speak on the matter openly.

Business analysts said the abduction was posing a threat not only to businessmen's safety but also to investor confidence in the country.

Several business magnates contacted by The Sunday Times agreed to speak only on condition of anonymity, fearing that they could possibly be the next target of the abductors.

One businessman said this was a mysterious new trend and was a clear indication of the extent to which the breakdown of law and order had gone. He called upon authorities to take drastic measures to eradicate the menace. "Otherwise foreign investor confidence too could be shaken, affecting the country," he said.

Several other industrialists and leading businessmen did not wish to comment, on the grounds that they did not want to be connected in any way with the abduction 'as it is too dangerous'.

The Wickremasinghe family was also reluctant to comment on the abduction and the ransom payment.

Several attempts by 'The Sunday Times to approach the family failed. We were told that Mr. Wickramasinghe was resting.

The ransom of Rs. 20 million is said to have been paid by Mr. Wickremasinghe's wife who was accompanied by her driver. The gang demanding the ransom is reported to have directed her by calling her on cell phone to the place where the huge ransom was paid. It is believed the ransom was paid at an isolated place in the Angoda area.

The Sunday Times learns that police had made attempts to follow the vehicle of Ms Wickremasinghe, but on a request from the family members, abandoned their chase.

Serious concern

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is likely to meet next week to discuss the abduction of Mr. Wickremasinghe.

The Sunday Times learns that the chamber members have expressed serious concern about the abduction, describing it as 'a serious and disturbing' event.

They feel the matter should be addressed seriously.

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