Sri Lanka ready for vote as campaign ends

The campaign for Thursday’s presidential polls comes to an end on Monday with both parties expressing confidence of their victory.
This is the first presidential election which has witnessed several cross overs from the two chief contesting parties. The incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for a fresh mandate to run for the presidency for the third time, while Maithripala Sirisena is contesting Rajapaksa from a common coalition from several parties that have formed a common front to fight Rajapaksa.
Rajapaksa said that he would get more votes than his last elections, while Sirisena said that he would win the polls since the majority Sinhalese community and the Tamil and Muslim minorities were all behind him because of his straight forwardness and integrity.
Around 14.5 million voters are expected to go for the polls on Thursday through 12,324 polling booths set up throughout the island. More than 3,000 government servants will be deployed for election duty in addition to the 71,100 security personnel including 5,000 special task forces officers.
Talk shows in the electronic media were spiced with interesting and hard-hitting talks between the ruling and opposition leaders. The government politicians claimed that Rajapaksa launched mega developments, which have benefitted both the country and its people.
The government side was headed by government spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissaanayake, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene, Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Mininster of Foreign Employment Dilan Perera.
The opposition group which comprised parliamentarians such as Rajitha Senaratne, Champika Ranawake, Ravi Karunanayake and Sujeewa Serasingha, pointed out that that the present Rajapaksa regime is a family dynasty and is “full of corruption.”
Ravi Karunanayke said the government is fabricating central bank statistics relating to economic developments in the country.
JVP legislator Anura Kumara Dissanayake said at a separate meeting that the government has overpaid for several major road and rail projects undertaken by the government,which means funds were going into private pockets at the expense of the state.
At a public meeting held in the northern part of the island,President Rajapaksa said that people should vote for him to continue the major national projects undertaken by the government.
In an interview with Sunday Times, Sri Lanka’s main opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena declared that, despite malpractices by the government, the public will not be deterred in defeating President Mahinda Rajapaksa at next week’s presidential election.
Sirisenaexpressed confidence that the Elections Commissioner and his department will conduct a free and fair election.
“The government has begun committing malpractices. But we have the backing of the people and will not be deterred,” he said.
“I have faith in the election commissioner and the Department of Elections. Though the government may try election malpractices, the people are with us,” said Sirisena speaking at his official residence.
Sirisena said that, during the past few weeks, the Opposition has been successful in gaining support, while the UPFA is getting more and more feeble. “They had not expected an opponent like me. So we have progressed very well. We have received great support from the people,” he added.
He said he was not worried about attempts by the UPFA to brand him as a ‘Tiger’, after the TNA extended their support, as government members have been doing the same in the past.
“Just as I came over from the government, the TNA too, whatever their former shortcomings, has turned a new leaf. Politicians have to change with the times. We cannot stagnate in the same pit. Whatever false rumors they may be spreading, our intentions are good.”
Sirisena said that he was confident of a smooth transition of power after victory.
“When power shifts from one party to another, it is the party that used to hold power that is discomfited. The newly elected government’s responsibility is to establish the new rule with no harm coming to anyone. And that is exactly what we will do. We have the experience and the expertise to do that,” he added.
Commenting on possible post poll violence, Sirisena said, “As his holiness the Pope will be visiting the country immediately after the election, there is a double need for peace and stability. I will ensure that the country will experience no violence following my victory.”
“I believe in peace among all communities. My intention is to let all citizens of this country live together happily,” he added.