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Govt. supporters launch presidential election propaganda campaign |
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2009-11-25 |
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Supporters of the government launched their propaganda campaign for the upcoming presidential election soon after it was declared on Monday night. A demonstration organised by the UPFA supporters in Moratuwa paraded the streets under the leadership of Minister Jeewan Kumaratunga. The UPFA supporters in Kalutara organised a demonstration with the participation of Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena. Chief Sanghanayake of the Galle District Andagoda Punnasara Thera, Kalutara Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Meril Wijesinghe and Moulavi M.L. Adam Lebbe conducted religious performances. The supporters of the government in Matara led a demonstration under the Mayor of Matara Upul Nishantha. They paraded the streets and distributed leaflets highlighting the services rendered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the nation and the need to re-elect him. (Read More)
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Fonseka challenges Gota in Court |
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2009-11-25 |
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Former Army Commander and Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka yesterday filed a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking adequate security and secure quarters. He named Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the Army Commander, the Inspector General of Police, the Acting Chief of Defence Staff, Presidential Secretary and the Attorney General as respondents. In his petition he said the decision not to provide him adequate security had been taken mala fide for the reasons that he would be a presidential candidate and opposing the president politically. (Read More) |
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Talks with JVP successful: UNP |
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2009-11-25 |
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The main opposition UNP said yesterday its negotiations with the JVP on the common candidate was successful and praised it for its role in working out a consensus among all opposition political parties on this vital issue. UNP front-liner Lakshman Kiriella told a news conference it was essential for these parties to work together and make sacrifices if their objective was to be achieved. “The UNP is also ready to make sacrifices for the sake of Sri Lanka and also to defeat this regime, which wasted two valuable years and much needed funds on holding elections on a staggered basis,” he said and denied that there were differences within the UNP on fielding a common candidate or on the symbol under which he would contest the presidential election. (Read More) |
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JVP backs Fonseka as candidate |
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2009-11-25 |
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Putting to rest days of speculation on the common candidate, the JVP yesterday officially announced it had decided to support former Army Commander and Chief of Defence Staff Sarath Fonseka for the upcoming presidential election. JVP parliamentary group leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a packed news conference that it decided on General Fonseka as a part of its objective to re-establish democracy in Sri Lanka. (Read More) |
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Govt. opens direct fire on Fonseka |
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2009-11-25 |
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The government yesterday claimed that military commanders had never challenged their Commanders in Chief in Sri Lanka’s history and General Sarath Fonseka would never succeed in his attempt to replace President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming Presidential Election as the former CDS did not have a proper CV to become the President. Addressing the first Presidential Election-related news briefing at the Mahaweli Centre, SLFP General Secretary and Agriculture Minister Maithripala Sirisena in the government’s first response to General Fonseka’s candidacy said no one could compare the responsibilities and duties of a President with the duties of a head of a Rural Development Society, Buddhist Society or Sports Club. (Read More) |
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We are prepared to bring victory to Gen. Fonseka at the presidential election : JVP |
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2009-11-25 |
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The JVP was prepared to put forward Gen. Sarath Fonseka as the common candidate at the presidential election and work for his victory said leader of the group of Parliamentarians of the JVP Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Speaking at a press conference held at JVP head office at Pelawatta today (24th) Mr. Dissanayake said, “We told Mr. Rajapakse to implement a programme that would bestow dignity to those war heroes who laid down their lives for the victory of the Motherland, those were maimed and all those who dedicated themselves for the victory. However, Mr. Rajapakse went on a separate path fostering nepotism. The JVP also presented a programme of 14 points to assist the displaced persons and to prevent those who took arms falling into the same rut again. (Read More) |
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Sri Lanka general to mount poll bid |
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2009-11-25 |
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Sri Lanka's former military chief will challenge his former boss Mahinda Rajapakse, the incumbent president, in the country's presidential election, an opposition party has said. The Peoples' Liberation Front, or JVP, said on Tuesday it had come to an agreement with General Sarath Fonseka, the former head of the military, and would back him in election to be held likely in January. "We came to an agreement last night [Monday] that he will be the common opposition candidate," Anurakumara Dissanayake, a JVP legislator, said. "He has accepted to be the 'apolitical' common candidate who will work towards the abolition of the executive presidency within six months of coming to power," he said. The JVP previously backed Rajapakse, but it, as well as the main opposition United National Party, have since said they will support any move to oust the president.(Read More)
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UNF Candidate: Working Committee to decide on Friday |
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2009-11-24 |
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The UNP Working Committee (WC) would meet next Friday to take a decision on the common candidate to be fielded for the presidential election. Party’s General Secretary MP Tissa Attanayake told Daily Mirror yesterday that there was no change in their stand in this respect, but they had to wait till each party in the newly formed United National Front (UNF) to obtain the approval of its internal highest decision body. “Before that, we cannot make any formal announcement. We will do it at the right time. Our Working Committee will meet on Friday for this purpose. The other parties in the UNF will also do the same,” he said. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday that it would ensure the participation of Tamil people in this election. TNA MP for the Jaffna district N. Sri Kantha told Daily Mirror that unlike in 2005, there would not be a boycott of election by the Tamil people. He said that it should either field a candidate for the upcoming presidential election or support one of the two candidates contesting the presidency under the major parties. Mr. Sri Kantha said, “there are two options for us. One is to field a common candidate under the TNA banner with the support of other Tamil parties. The other is to choose a candidate among those contesting under the major parties. For that purpose, we have to wait and see who the candidate to be reckoned with is. There is enough time for it”. SLFP (Mahajana Wing) MP Mangala Samaraweera said that the proclamation had now been sent, and once the Elections Commissioner gazettes it, the opposition’s stand would be made known to the public.  |
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UNP calls for free and fair poll |
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2009-11-24 |
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With President Rajapaksa having directed the Elections Chief to hold the presidential election, the main Opposition UNP yesterday called for a free and fair poll devoid of cheap political tactics and in an environment sans violence. UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya in a statement urged the government to respect the fundamental rights of citizens to function in a democracy. He said the ugly track record of the UPFA administration and its effort to manipulate the will of the people had compelled the party to demand a free and fair election whether it was going to be the presidential or general election. “Holding seven Provincial Council elections on a staggered basis clearly indicates the government’s craze for power at any cost,” he said. (Read More)
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Directive issued for presidential poll |
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2009-11-24 |
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday declared the much awaited presidential election and instructed Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake to take appropriate steps to conduct the poll on a suitable date. Meanwhile the Gazette notification declaring the presidential election was being printed at the government press, sources from the government printing press said last night. The President announced his decision to go for a snap presidential election at a meeting with leaders of political parties constituting the ruling UPFA and the district organizers. He said his decision to go before the people two years before the end of his first term of office was because he had been able to accomplish in four years the work that was planned for six years. Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa told Daily Mirror that the political party leaders who attended the meeting pledged their full support to the President. “The President has decided to hold the presidential election and asked for the support of the party leaders. They did not hesitate to extend their wholehearted support to the government in the re election campaign,” he said. (Read More) |
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