RANIL CALLS OFF CAMPAIGN (98 Jul 22)
The leader of the opposition Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the candidates of the UNP for the provincial council elections not to go ahead with the campaign. The nominations were closed on the fifteenth of July and the commissioner of elections has fixed the date, August twenty eighth for the elections.
However there is much speculation that the elections will be postponed. Several ministers including Dr. G. L. Peiris and Mr. Anuruddha Ratwatte have indicated on a number of occasions that the elections would have to be postponed due to the security situation in the country. Security has to be provided during the campaign and on the election day mainly because the UNP and the PA fight among themselves and also due to the malpractices of the government party.
It is clear that the PA and the UNP are not too keen to have an election at this juncture. Mr. Wickremesinghe instead of challenging the government to conduct the elections as scheduled has meekly surrendered to the wish of the President.