2.3.2008
Ruling
Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
led by Pillaiyan alias Sivanesathurai Chanthirakanthan
and number Muslims groups are expected to contest the
Eastern Provincial Council elections under the United
People’s Freedom Alliance banner. At the same time
United National Party and Tamil National Alliance have
already decided not to contest in the forthcoming Eastern
Provincial Council Elections.
Now it has been confirmed that nominations for the Eastern
Provincial Council elections are expected to be called
From 25 – 30 March. Minister Jeyaraj Frnandopulle
when speaking to Asian Tribune said that UNP indicated
the other day when they met the President that they would
likely to tow with the Tamil National Alliance –
the proxy party of the LTTE.
The
Minister added that it is clear that TNA is also not going
to contest, because LTTE do not like the demerger of the
North and Eastern provinces, which tantamount to accepting
the demerger of the two provinces. So the LTTE does not
want TNA to do it. So UNP may also toe that line.
Minister
Jeyaraj Frnandopulle said, "I told Ranil Wicramasinge,
Leader of the Opposition, recently when he came to meet
the President that in 1989, Sri Lanka Freedom Party did
not contest in the Provincial Council Election, by that
many small parties came into prominence. Now if they don’t
contest, their support base will be diminished in the
Eastern Province.”
According
to him SLMC may contest and they are already now contesting
the elections for the 9 Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Batticaloa
district in the Eastern province. Minsiter pointed out,
apart from the SLMC, all the other Muslims parties will
get together. They may come under one banner or else they
will join the United People’s Front Alliance, the
ruling party and participate in the election for the Provincial
Council.
He
said that Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal, (TMVP) will
contest and they may join with UPFA and contest the election,
but we have not finalized who will be the chief minister
candidate in this election.
“We
are awaiting the result of the provincial council election
to assess the strength of the TMVP. I was told that they
are growing from strength to strength. Whatever said a
Tamil speaking person will be the Chief Minister of the
Eastern Province,” Jeyaraj Fernandopillae said.
When
asked why the Government has not come forward to hold
the Provincial Council’s election in the North,
he said that the election in the North cannot be considered
at present till the Government take control of Killinochchi,
Mullathivu and a part of Mannar in the Northern Province.
When
Asian Tribune pointed out that even after January 2007,
after the demerger of the two provinces, the office North
Provincial Council continues to be located in Trincomalee
in the East and why the Government has not shifted the
office to the North.
He
said, “I think they will do it soon and they should
have a separate Governor for the North. “
When
asked whether the Governmwent has considered any names
for North Governor and also pointed out that there a recent
news reports which said that V.Anandasangaree is to be
appointed as the Governor for North.
Minsiter
Jeyaraj Fernandopillai said that the appointment of the
Governor is the discretion of the President. He further
said “No, no, I don’t think Anandasangaree
wants to become a Governor. I don’t think so. My
feeling is that he should come to Parliament and he will
be very useful in the Parliament.” When asked in
which political party and in which electorate he will
contest for the next elections, he said “It is not
necessary he should contest. He can come as a Nationalist
MP as well.”
Also
when Asian Tribune asked from which party will have as
a nationalist MP?
Jeyaraj
Fernandopulle who is also the Treasurer of the Sri Lanka
Freedom Party, said “Which party? The Government
party and no other party will appoint him. Whatever it
may be Anandasangaree must come to Parliament. No matter
which party he is going to come from.”
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune