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1342 candidates for Eastern PC election; Hakeem, Hisbulla, Jayathissa fight for CM post

3.4.2008

1342 candidates have filed nominations from 12 political parties and 56 independent groups for the Eastern Provincial Council.

One hundred and five lists of nominations had been filed for the three districts by the time the nomination closed on 12 noon today. Forty four of them were from registered political parties while 61 were from independent groups. Nine of the lists of the political parties and five lists of the independent groups were rejected due to objections.

For Trincomalee district, 16 political parties and 19 independent groups filed nominations. The nominations of the Muslim Liberation Front, EPDP, Tamil Democratic Party and United National Alliance were rejected.

14 political parties and 16 independent groups submitted nominations for Batticaloa district and the nominations of the Liberation Tigers People's Front, Ruhunu Janatha Party and an independent group were rejected.

14 political parties and 26 independent groups submitted nominations for Batticaloa district and the nominations of three political parties and four independent groups were rejected.

M.L.A.M. Hisbulla who broke away few days ago from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has been named as the Chief Minister candidate of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA). SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem, who contests for the Trincomalee district, is the Chief Minister candidate of the United National Party (UNP). Vimal Jayathissa, a teacher and a member of the Kanthale Pradeshiya Sabha is the Chief Minister candidate of the People's Liberation Front (JVP).
Devage Weerasinghe, contesting for the Ampara district is the only Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) candidate in UPFA lists for the Eastern Province.
Resigned SLMC MPs Hasan Ali and Bazeer Segu Davood contest for Ampara and Batticaloa districts respectively. Pillaiyan who earlier expected the UPFA Chief Minister candidacy contests for the Batticaloa district.

Thirty-seven councilors, 14 from Ampara, 11 from Batticaloa and 10 from Trincomalee and two bonus seats are to be elected for the Eastern Provincial Council. The bonus seats go to the party that accounts the highest number of votes. The total number of voters for the province is 985,721.

The Election Commissioner has informed the Retaining Officers of the three districts that the Eastern Provincial Council election would be held on May 10.


Courtesy - LeN