“Expect skulduggery on polling day”: CBK

Wednesday, 17 December 2014 00:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Confident ex-President says Opposition developing counter-strategies to protect vote on 8 Jan.
Says Opposition’s greatest enemy is ‘time’
International community must monitor and push for free poll, says ex-President
CBK oversees crossover of three local councillors from her home district

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is all smiles after a media conference yesterday with three United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) members – Attanagalle Pradeshiya Sabha member Indika Rajapakse, Minuwangoda Pradeshiya Sabha Group Leader Somaratne Diyanetti and Chilaw Urban Councillor Jeewani Kariyawasam – who pledged support to Opposition common presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

By Dharisha Bastians A confident former President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday warned that underhand tactics were likely on polling day and called on the international community to push the Rajapaksa Government to hold a free and fair election on 8 January. “We have immense support at ground level, which we have to organise and take to the polling booth,” Kumaratunga said, brimming with confidence outside her official residence in Colombo. “On polling day we suspect that there is going to be a lot of skulduggery going on. We have to prepare for that. It happened in the Fonseka election too,” the former Head of State warned. The Opposition was developing counter-strategies to combat the influence of underhand tactics on election day, she explained. “We have to have various strategies and methods to counter this, we know they will do two or three different things and we are prepared for that,” Kumaratunga said. She urged the international community to push for a fair poll. “Monitoring is about the only thing they can do, in someone else’s country. Perhaps talk to the Government about carrying on a free and fair election. But with this Government that falls on completely deaf ears,” the former President noted. President Kumaratunga, who is reportedly heavily involved in the Maithripala Sirisena campaign strategy and operation, complained that the Opposition’s greatest enemy was ‘time’. “We have to run. We have to work 48 hours a day if we can,” she urged. The former President acknowledged that the Opposition would have liked three more months to structure the campaign, but remained hopeful. “I think the people’s power we are seeing will counter-balance the lack of time,” Kumaratunga said. Kumaratunga explained that the common Opposition alliance looks a little confused at the moment, because the parties are still trying to get things together. “Intentions are very good. Bona fides are excellent. I was pleasantly surprised. Nobody is trying to gain leverage above others,” she acknowledged. President Kumaratunga, who is marshalling defectors from the ruling party as the former Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, yesterday oversaw the crossovers of three Pradeshiya Sabha members from her home district of Gampaha. Local councillors Indika Rajapaksa from the Bandaranaike seat of Attanagalla, Somaratne Diyanetti from the Meerigama PS and Attorney-at-Law Jeewani Kariyawasam from the Chilaw PS quit the UPFA and joined the Opposition yesterday.

Maithri calls for debate with Mahinda

By Dharisha Bastians in Divulapitiya Common Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena has challenged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to a debate on good governance and democracy. Speaking at an election rally in Divulapitiya last night, Sirisena urged his former boss to debate him in a neutral setting, before a panel of independent judges. “I will come to the debate without a single piece of paper in my hands. I will teach him about good governance and democracy. I will teach him how civilised leaders rule,” a fired up Sirisena charged. Both candidates had to be ensured security at the chosen debate venue, he said. Speaking to Daily FT as he left the rally grounds, Sirisena said the intelligence services had failed to uncover their defection. “We were that creative,” he quipped. A host of opposition leaders addressed the Divulapitiya rally, speaking against family rule, corruption and abuse of power.