Govt. launches two-pronged battle here and abroad
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Without the glare of publicity, in the past days he has been chairing meetings with MPs of different districts in the three provinces. Co-opted to help them and given specific areas to campaign are cabinet ministers. All of them have been told that they should work towards ensuring a higher percentage of votes than the previous 2008 elections for the UPFA.
It has become priority number one for Rajapaksa for many reasons. More than three years after the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas, he wants to demonstrate that the voters have endorsed his government’s achievements including the ongoing development programmes. The message to be delivered, both domestically and internationally, is that the Rajapaksa administration is having the full backing of the people. To achieve its goal, the government has intensified welfare measures. Farmers hard hit by the prevailing drought are receiving water pumps. Housing assistance is being provided to those wanting to improve their abodes. Ahead of the nominations, where it is legally permissible, hundreds received jobs. This week, Rs. 1.5 billion was set apart for development work in the North Central Province alone.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
By Our Political Editor
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There is no one who is busier than President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the upcoming North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Provincial Council elections.
Without the glare of publicity, in the past days he has been chairing meetings with MPs of different districts in the three provinces. Co-opted to help them and given specific areas to campaign are cabinet ministers. All of them have been told that they should work towards ensuring a higher percentage of votes than the previous 2008 elections for the UPFA.It has become priority number one for Rajapaksa for many reasons. More than three years after the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas, he wants to demonstrate that the voters have endorsed his government’s achievements including the ongoing development programmes. The message to be delivered, both domestically and internationally, is that the Rajapaksa administration is having the full backing of the people. To achieve its goal, the government has intensified welfare measures. Farmers hard hit by the prevailing drought are receiving water pumps. Housing assistance is being provided to those wanting to improve their abodes. Ahead of the nominations, where it is legally permissible, hundreds received jobs. This week, Rs. 1.5 billion was set apart for development work in the North Central Province alone.
In the 2008 elections to the North Central Province, the UPFA polled 56.37 per cent of the 573,522 votes polled. The United National Party (UNP), its closest rival, came second with 37.64 per cent. This is despite the UNP contesting together with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). The SLMC, though a constituent partner in the ruling coalition, is going it alone this time. In Sabaragamuwa, the UPFA polled 55.34 per cent as against the UNP’s 40.53 per cent from a total of 901,673 votes polled. In the Eastern Province where 646,456 votes were polled, the UPFA won 52.21 per cent whilst the UNP obtained 42.38 per cent. Despite the increase in voter strength in all three provinces, the UPFA’s chances are very much brighter in both the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. However, the multi-ethnic composition of the voter strength in the Eastern Province coupled with the widespread unpopularity of former Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Piliyan’s administration had dipped the popularity of the UPFA. This time, the SLMC has fielded candidates in the east on its own. The demographic composition of the three districts, according to 2007 statistics of the Department of Census, in the eastern province is as follows: Ampara — Muslims 44 per cent, Sinhalese 37.5 per cent and Tamils 18.3 per cent. Batticaloa — Tamils 74 per cent, Muslims 25 per cent and Sinhalese 0.5 per cent. Trincomalee — Muslims 45.4 per cent, Tamils 28.6 per cent and Sinhalese 25.4 per cent. There has of course been a proportionate growth since then.
The murky politics in the east was muddied further by remarks made by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem. He told an election meeting in Sainthamaruthu in the Ampara District that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had successfully eradicated terrorism. In similar fashion, he said, Rajapaksa should eradicate what he called “yellow robed terrorism”. Hakeem was alluding to complaints of reported attacks on at least two mosques during the holy month of Ramadan. The remarks touched a raw nerve among members of the Buddhist clergy. There were strong protests by them over the leader of a constituent party of the UPFA making such remarks. Equally hurt or even embarrassed were a vast number of Muslims themselves. In the light of racial tension, the result of extremists in various communities fanning the flames of communalism, some had arranged for members of the Buddhist clergy and leading Buddhist citizens to attend Ifthar ceremonies which mark the end of the day’s fasting. Muslims partake in a pre-dawn meal and remain without food or water until sunset.
