Setting the stage for the PC polls

Setting the stage for the PC polls


Voters would be going to the polls one
year ahead of schedule and (inset)
Dayananda Dissanayake

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti, Arthur Wamanan
and Nirmala Kannangara

Following the dissolution of the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils, all main and peripheral political parties were busy finalising their nomination lists last week. The nomination period runs from June 27 to July 4.

The councils were prematurely dissolved following the chief ministers of both the provinces making representations to the President. The dissolution was also challenged in court only to be ruled that the dissolutions were in order.

As nominations are being finalised, the ruling UPFA coalition is yet to announce their chief ministerial candidates, though there is every chance that the government might field the same candidates, Berty Premalal Dissanayake and Maheepala Herath for the NCP and Sabaragamuwa respectively.

The UNP has managed to nominate one candidate - former army chief of staff turned diplomat, Janaka Perera as their chief ministerial candidate for the NCP. Sabaragamuwa proved a headache to the UNP with the original nominee, Upul Shantha Sannasgala backing out from the race even before he was officially recognised.

Chief ministerial candidates

The JVP is the only party to have announced the two chief ministerial candidates - Wasantha Samarasinghe for the NCP and Chameera Koswatte for Sabaragamuwa.

As parties scan candidates, the main opposition UNP told The Sunday Leader that two other main political parties - the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), the Western People's Front (WPF) and the SLFP (M) Group have lent their support to the UNP

The final announcement of the party's two chief ministerial candidates will be made at the UNP's working committee meeting scheduled for July 1. "All the three political parties and SLFP (M) will contest under one symbol. Our decision on the chief ministerial candidates would be taken on Tuesday, July 1," UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told The Sunday Leader.

According to Attanayake a difficult task is ahead for the opposition parties as they would not only have to concentrate on winning the elections but also fight against government sponsored thuggery.

"The country witnessed as to how the government secured victory at the Eastern Provincial Council election. The entire government machinery was used to unleash violence and then the state media did full time free propaganda work. Even the Police Department clearly demonstrated their bias and went all out to assist the government campaign instead of maintaining law and order. We expect the government to do a repeat. We are certain of massive intimidation and rigging. That's the UPFA's trademark and they want to win at any cost," claimed Attanayake.

Win by hook or by crook

General Secretary, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Hassen Ali told The Sunday Leader that government ministers and their goon squads would undoubtedly try to win the two elections by hook or by crook.

"What was the need for the government to hold staggered elections? If the government claims that the two governors had to dissolve the provincial councils because they lacked a majority in the respective councils, then why didn't they dissolve the utterly corrupt and inefficient Wayamba PC and the Western PC?" asked Hassen Ali.

The WPF that has pledged support to the UNP, will not field candidates in the NCP but will field a single candidate each in Ratnapura and Kegalle.

WPF Leader Mano Ganesan said that the party saw eye to eye with the UNP on several issues and decided to work with them. " It is also the first time that we will contest in Sabaragamuwa," he added.

While political parties fine-tune their nomination lists, election monitors too have begun their ground work in both the provinces. Monitors such as the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) and Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) have both commenced the initial work in order to carry out their monitoring activities during pre election and election periods.

Monitoring the polls

PAFFREL has already started to train 3,000 persons to do monitoring work in both the provinces.

PAFFREL Chief Kingsley Rodrigo said that around 2,500 persons would be selected to monitor the polls in both the provinces.

According to Rodrigo, 1,600 polling booths would be established in both provinces.

The 2,500 persons who are selected would also include mobile monitors who will travel to many of the booths in both provinces.

"Therefore, we cannot say how many monitors would be working in each province yet," he said.

The CMEV has also commenced preparatory work as nominations date draws near. The CMEV did not monitor the provincial council polls held in the east last May.

National Coordinator of CMEV, D.M. Dissanayake told The Sunday Leader that it had already started to look into the financial and other aspects necessary to commence monitoring activities.

Selection of candidates

"We will decide by July 4, after the nominations are filed," he said.

Meanwhile when queried on what basis the parties have decided to select candidates and whether there would be any youth participation at the forthcoming PC elections, UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake said that all those who represented the previous councils would be given nominations while the rest would be selected from those who have promoted the party at grass root level together with other popular personalities.

"After offering the first slots to those who served the previous councils the rest would be selected from popular personalities and local organisers who have promoted the party at grassroot level," Attanayake explained.

Attanayake said that nomination lists would be finalised by July 1.

According to Hassen Ali, the SLMC has decided to contest with the UNP and will field one candidate from each of the four districts. "The SLMC has already nominated Ravuttar Neina Mohammad as their candidate for the Anuradhapura District. Candidates for Ratnapura, Kegalle and Polonnaruwa would be selected shortly," Ali stated.

Criteria for selection

When asked what their criteria would be when selecting candidates, Ali said that since there is no criteria in selecting candidates for the PC elections, the party would consider their political suitability and local acceptance.

He further said the party could get 60% of the votes from the four districts in the event the government holds free and fair elections.

"We paid several visits to the four districts and found that the people are now fed up with this administration and are eagerly waiting to expel the ruling party. They are also in fear as to whether there would be a repetition of the eastern poll and police interference this time round," Ali added.

Ali further said that the SLMC would go before courts in the event of the people not being given a chance to select their representatives in a free and fair election.

"The SLMC even filed a case against the Elections Commissioner for his failure to hold a free and fair election and to have it declared null and void. The Court of Appeal granted us leave to proceed, and the applications in respect of Ampara and Batticaloa are to be taken up on July 11 and 14 respectively. As such, we would not be reluctant to go before courts and challenge the results if the results are rigged once again," he noted.

Constitutional Council

Accusing the government of not appointing the Constitutional Council (CC), Ali reiterated the need to conduct free and fair polls. "Even the government would benefit if the independent commissions are appointed. Why is the government scared of appointing these commissions?" queried Ali.

Both the provinces are going to poll exactly a year ahead of the due date. Both Sabaragamuwa and the NCP were handsomely won by the UPFA coalition in July 2004.

In the Anuradhapura District, the UPFA secured 187,977 votes compared to the UNP's 89,166 votes. In Polonnaruwa the UPFA and the UNP obtained 91,067 and 54,534 votes respectively. In the Ratnapura District, the UPFA and UNP secured 213,619 and 119,681 votes respectively while in Kegalle, the UPFA polled 185,112 votes as opposed to the UNP's 115,551 votes.

The NCP will elect 31 members while Sabaragamuwa will elect 42 councillors.

Meanwhile, as nominations close on July 4 - next Friday, all parties are gearing themselves for their campaigns to be launched the week after.

Wasantha: JVP's NCP hopefulWasantha: JVP's NCP hopeful

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

In a bid to bring in young blood into the forefront of politics, the JVP has nominated Herath Mudiyanselage Wasantha Samarasinghe as its chief ministerial candidate for the North Central Provincial Council.

Samarasinghe, a member of parliament who has raised his voice against corruption, wastage, malpractice in government, and economic mismanagement, gave up the legislature to contest the forthcoming NCP polls.

With a vision of creating an efficient financial management system that would help uplift the living standards of people in the most rural areas in the country, the young, enthusiastic Samarasinghe feels the urgent need to create a better tomorrow for the future generations.

Born on May 24, 1976, in Thambuttegama, Anuradhapura, Samarasinghe is the eighth in a family of 10. Samarasinghe's father is engaged in paddy farming and owns a shop in the Thambuttegama town and was earlier a government servant while his mother was a housewife.

Early education

He was educated at the Thambuttegama Primary School and completed his A/Levels at the Thambuttegama Central College. After receiving three A's and one B at the A/Level exam in 1996 in the commerce stream and ranking fifth in the district, the bright student was selected to enter the Kelaniya University to follow a degree in accountancy.

However, soon after his A/Levels, till he was called to the university, Samarasinghe worked at the People's Bank branch in Kebethigollewa, Anuradhapura for one and a half years where he says he gained a lot of knowledge on the workings of the state banking system. With the working experience and a yearning to learn more, Samarasinghe entered university in 1999.

As a youth, while engaged in school education, Samarasinghe and his friends believed in standing up for justice. On two occasions, it was he along with a few of his friends who managed to help the police capture several people who attempted to smuggle heroin into the Thambuttegama area.

"I was neither a quiet person nor one who was full of mischief as a child, but my friend and I always stood for what was right and was protective of our village community," he says.

Interest in politics

It was his desire to stand for justice and serve the people that made Samarasinghe enter politics. His interest in politics began with his desire to bring in a change to the country, which he feels is a great need even today given the unresolved issues by successive governments.

It was the 1994 elections that was the turning point in his life. According to him, when the change expected by everyone did not happen and the issues faced by the people continued to remain unresolved with democracy coming under threat, he and a few others felt the need to make a change.

In 1995, while studying for the A/Levels, the energetic youth with a vision to bring about a positive change to the country joined the JVP as a student member. He then continued to take part in party activities throughout his university career.

Although initially his family was a little reluctant to accept his choice of career, Samarasinghe managed to get the full backing of his family and considers it a blessing to have their support in his chosen field of politics.

Member of the students' union

While in university, Samarasinghe was a member of the students' union and in 2001 was appointed as the secretary of the Inter University Students' Union. In 2002 he was appointed as the president of the union, and in the same year, he captained the university's football team as well.

In 2002, he was also appointed as the head of the Mawbima Surakeeme Jathika Vyaparaya (Movement to Protect the Motherland).

After leaving the university in 2003, Samarasinghe joined the Socialist Students' Union and was later appointed as a member of the national steering committee.

Then came the big moment. In April 2004, Wasantha Samarasinghe entered parliament under the UPFA as a national list member of the JVP.

On June 26, 2004, he was also appointed as the secretary of the JVP's private sector trade union - the Inter Company Employees' Union (ICEU). Later, in 2007, he was appointed as the chairman of the ICEU.

Today he has become a leading figure in the trade union sector by heading many protests along with the working masses to protect their rights. Shouting slogans to win the demands of the working masses, he firmly believes that as a community that contributes to the country's economy, the working classes have to be treated justly.

Member of parliament

In parliament, Samarasinghe who has been a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and several consultative committees including that of the Ministries of Finance, Industries, Investment Promotion, Labour and Education, believes that the country at present lacks a proper financial management system.

His passion to streamline the state finances was highlighted in parliament when he questioned the malpractices identified by the PAC during its investigations on management of state funds and called for the immediate implementation of the proposals formulated by the committee that were being held back at the time due to various "reasons."

Samarasinghe, who has a great conviction towards labour issues and labour rights, has been a member of the National Labour Advisory Council since 2004.

He has also represented the country at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) sessions in Geneva, sessions of the World Federation of Trade Unions, the 15th Cuban Convention and in many other international labour and trade union summits in China, India and Singapore.

Due to his exposure to international labour and economic issues and the knowledge acquired in economics through his own tertiary education, this young leader in the making pays great attention to the functions of the country's economy and the role of the legislature in its management and says that there are certain areas that need to be considered when managing an economy, which include wiping out corruption and wastage of public funds. He is of the view that the money saved through such measures should be utilised to provide more welfare measures to the people.

Economic disparities

Hailing from a district that is steeped in poverty, Samarasinghe sees the need to reduce the vast economic disparities between the regions. "Incomes of the low income earners have to be increased," he says.

An ardent believer that the youth in the country should be given a bigger role to play in the country's development, Samarasinghe feels that university students should be given the opportunity to work directly with society on various development project during their final year in the university, as it would be beneficial to them as well as to the country.

As the chief ministerial candidate, Samarasinghe says he will pay special attention to developing the road network, the irrigation system in the region, building a safety network together with the civilians in the threatened villages, and to develop the ancient cities without harming their historical value.

Samarasinghe firmly believes that a well-developed road network would help farmers to transport their produce to the market and that the irrigation system should be built in consultation with the farming community.

According to Samarasinghe, the farming community should be made stakeholders of the measures taken to uplift the agriculture sector in the region.

He also says that the education and health sectors of the province need special attention.

Education and health sectors

The education sector, which is considered the only salvation for the children languishing in the remotest parts of the region, according to Samarasinghe needs to be streamlined by making available the basic infrastructure facilities with special emphasis being paid to creating a proper psychological environment for the children to study.

Samarasinghe feels that in the health sector, the main needs of the rural hospitals need to be paid urgent attention, and an efficient system put in place to serve the community better.

Hailing from the ancient seat of kings, Samarasinghe also feels passionately about preserving the historical value of the two ancient cities, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. He is hoping to pay attention to preparing a proper town plan that would help develop the ancient cities while preserving their historical value.

Another area that needs special attention according to Samarasinghe, is the plight of the people in the threatened villages who have to bear the brunt of terrorism head on.

As a young leader, Samarasinghe says the youth in the country although ready to help the country's development process even by sacrificing their lives, have been purposely misguided. His message to them is to understand the real issues faced by the country, think of the future generations and understand the change that is needed to make their lives better. "Youth should play a decisive role in bringing in the change the country needs. There is a need to change the present social system and the youth need to understand that and stand for what is right," he says.

Also, showing gratitude to the force that brought him to his present position, Samarasinghe says he owes most of his achievements to his party.

North Central Province - the agrarian heartland

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

The North Central Province (NCP), known over the centuries as Raja Rata was the seat of Sri Lanka's ancient kingdoms from pre-Christian times to the mid-12th century A.D.

Enriched with a great history, the NCP comprising the districts of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa holds a special place in the country as the largest province in the Sinhala Buddhist heartland.

The NCP since the time of the ancient kings, has boasted of a robust agrarian economy.

In addition, the districts of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa have a great history enriched with architecture, art, sculpture, learning and knowledge.

The timeless hydraulic engineering marvels in the province built by ancient kings transformed the dry-zone into a fertile land. Some of the famous irrigation systems include the Tissawewa, Nuwarawewa, Basawakkulama, Kalawewa, Minneriya and Parakrama Samudra.

Yala harvest

The availability of water for irrigation made the NCP one of the key paddy producing provinces in the country. According to the Census and Statistics Department (CSD), Anuradhapura District has produced 54,492 mt. of paddy while the Polonnaruwa District produced 221,598 mt.of paddy during the last Yala harvest

The prevailing security situation in the country has brought about a new employment opportunity for the youth in the NCP. The large number of threatened villages in the region has prompted many of the youth to join the civil defence force (CDF).

According to unconfirmed statistics, there are over 17,000 persons attached to the CDF in the Anuradhapura District alone.

However, despite the agrarian based economy and the new breed of CDF personnel, the two districts still remain under the country's official poverty line.

Below poverty line

The official poverty line at national level for May 2008 according to the CSD is Rs. 2825. The Anuradhapura District stands as the second poorest region in the country at Rs. 147 below the poverty line, at Rs. 2678. Polonnaruwa District stands at Rs. 2790, which is Rs. 35 below the poverty line.

The NCP, which is based on a rural economy, is faced with several issues ranging from a weak health sector to an education sector that needs much attention.

Most of the hospitals and schools located in the difficult areas in the province lack even the basic facilities. An issue unique to the province is the plight of the people in the threatened villages.

In the Anuradhapura District alone, there are 285 villages in 77 grama niladhari divisions categorised as threatened villages. People in these villages, which are under constant threat, are faced with severe hardships. Even the children are left to bear the brunt, as the education sector is one of the worst hit in these threatened villages.

Adverse impact

The security situation in the country has had an adverse impact on the functioning of schools in the two educational zones of Kebethigollewa and Dimbulagala.

Schools in the Dimbulagala education zone however are functioning even amidst fears of an escalation in violence. According to the Dimbulagala zonal education office, the 93 schools in the area were functioning as normal albeit fears of attacks by the LTTE.

Students in the Kebethigollewa zone have had to bear the brunt of the escalating violence when the security situation compelled the closure of eight of the 126 schools in the Kebethigollewa education zone in the province.

According to statistics at the provincial education office of the NCP, over 2,129 students were affected by the closure of schools in the zone.

Besides, electricity is still scarce while there is a severe shortage of drinking water that is also responsible for the high prevalence of kidney infections.

Difficult areas

Most of the schools are categorised as difficult area schools and lack even the basic facilities like electricity, water and toilets. Classes are conducted in cadjan sheds and in some instances students are left to study outdoors.

The province is considered pro-left, based on the results of the last presidential election. At this election, in the Anuradhapura District, the UPFA managed to garner (231,040) 55.08% of the votes while the UNP received (182,956) 43.62%. In the Polonnaruwa District, the UPFA received (110,499) 52.61% of the votes while the UNP received (97,142) 46.25%.

Anuradhapura has 569,398 registered voters while Polonnaruwa has 277,056 registered voters.

However, there has been a decline in the UPFA vote base following the defection of the JVP from the government. During the last local government elections in March 2006, the UPFA gained control of the Anuradhapura Municipal Council only by a slim majority of about 400 votes.

Sabaragamuwa - the land of gems and landslides

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

Here is a province of contrasts- lush greenery, tea, rubber and gems coupled with arid features. In Sabaragamuwa, one finds them all.

Derived from the word 'Saffragam,' or the land of the sapphires, Sabaragamuwa Province is multi-faceted. Its reputation for the finest precious gemstones that even adorned the crown of the fabled Queen of Sheba is well documented, as the rubber and tea products of the unique province.

A lush green province endowed with nature's bounty, the two districts Ratnapura and Kegalle enjoy different characteristics. Kegalle, famous for its rubber industry and low country tea, is generally green and is also famous for ornithological pursuits. The district has nine electorates. They are Kegalle, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Galigamuwa, Mawanella, Ruwanwella, Dedigama, Rambukkana and Yatiyantota.

The district enjoys a unique blend of all three communities, with tea and rubber growing electorates having a higher percentage of Tamils and in Mawanella, a strong Muslim presence.

Two geographical features

The other district, Ratnapura has two geographical features - arid and wet. World famous for its precious gemstones, the Balangoda Man or the fossils of a pre historic human form, Ratnapura has its wealth polarised. Importantly, some of the electorates form part of the unique Sinharaja Rain Forest. It is also home to the famous Adam's Peak, a revered place of worship.

The district is divided into eight electorates namely, Balangoda, Kalawana, Pelmadulla, Nivitigala, Ratnapura, Kolonna, Eheliyagoda and Rakwana.

Some areas are more difficult, like Embilipitiya and Kolonna where water is scarce and the weather harsh. But the more resourceful areas like Ratnapura, Pelmadulla and Nivithigala are lined with tea estates. There is a concentration of the wealthy in the main cities, and they find gem merchants a plenty.

Ratnapura's soil was once considered its wealth and fortune- for only here did the most rare gemstones spring. Its soil hence was much valued.

Disaster prone

But all the gem pits and the incessant digging have rendered Ratnapura the most disaster prone district in the country.

The district is yet to have a comprehensive disaster management scheme and flood control scheme put in place. For all the illustrious politicians the district has produced, little has been done to prevent it from qualifying for the islands' most disaster prone area.

A hub of leftist politics, the district produced Sri Lanka's first woman prime minister, Sirima Bandaranaike. Likewise, it was infamous during the outbreak of a bloody JVP led insurgency in 1987, with many considering Ratnapura to be the place where the seeds of dissention reached eruption stage.

It is also important to note that the JVP's emergence as a third political force took place in Ratnapura and Hambantota Districts with the largest number of JVP activists killed in the aftermath of the bloody insurgency hailing from the Ratnapura District.

While sanitation, electricity and healthcare plague the Kegalle District, Ratnapura often experiences water borne diseases, malaria and huge problems with regard to primary and secondary education. In Kegalle too, education is a largely neglected area.

Together, Ratnapura and Kegalle do not create a wealthy province, despite its natural resources though Kegalle manages to rise above the stipulated poverty line.

Poverty line

According to the Official Poverty Line (OPL) as of May 2008, the province has some 467,00 persons living below the official poverty line, contributing 16.6% of the poverty stricken population.

The OPL is Rs. 2,825 and Ratnapura stands at Rs. 2818 while Kegalle stands at Rs. 2893.

During the 2004 PC polls, the SLFP-JVP combine polled 213,619 votes and 185,112 votes in Kegalle winning the two bonus seats.

The UNP lagged behind polling 119681 votes in Ratnapura and 115,551 in Kegalle allowing the UPFA to sweep the boards in July 2004 to capture power in Sabaragamuwa.

At present, Ratnapura has 713,198 registered voters while Kegalle has 605,621 registered voters.

At the 2005 presidential election, out of the 555,074 total valid votes, the UPFA secured 294,260 (53.1%) in the Ratnapura District against the UNP's 252,838 - 45.55% of the total number of valid votes.

In Kegalle, both parties polled somewhat close, with the UPFA obtaining 239,184 while the UNP obtained 223,483 out of the 468,773 valid votes.

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