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Elections set for Nov. 17
Monday, 19 September 2005 - 8:21 PM SL Time
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Sri Lanka`s presidential election will be held Nov. 17, officials said Monday, a poll largely seen as a referendum on whether the government should continue pursuing a Norway-brokered peace process with the Tamil Tiger rebels.
Nominations will be accepted on Oct. 7, said Rasika Peiris, assistant election commissioner.
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the poll must be held this year - ending months of controversy over when President Chandrika Kumaratunga`s second term ends. The constitution limits her to two six-year terms, but she had argued that she should be able to serve until next year because the previous elections were called early.
Ruling party candidate Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe - a former prime minister - are the two main contenders in a the tight presidential race.
The main election issues are how to resurrect an economy plagued by an escalating cost of living, and the fate of the rapidly fraying truce between the government and Tamil Tigers.
The government and rebels ended a two-decade civil war by signing a cease-fire in February 2002, but subsequent peace talks have stalled due to disagreements over the Tigers` demands for wide autonomy in their northeastern stronghold.
Rajapakse has already secured support from a hard-line Marxist party and another led by Sri Lanka`s influential Buddhist monks by promising not to share political power and tsunami aid with the guerrillas, and to review the current Norway-brokered peace process.
Those promises angered Kumaratunga, who has long pushed for a power-sharing deal and agreed to the Tigers` demand for joint distribution of aid for victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami, hoping to achieve peace with the rebels.
Rajapakse is popular among Sri Lanka`s majority ethnic Sinhalese Buddhists. He opposes privatization and public sector reforms.
Wickremesinghe, who signed the cease-fire with the rebels when he was prime minister, has promised to resume the peace talks and create a federal system of government that would give the separatists more autonomy.
He is strongly backed by the business community for his open economic policies, but he lacks wide grass roots support and was voted out of power in a 2004 parliamentary election.
About 13.3 million people over age 18 will vote in the November poll.
The election commission has yet to announce how the poll will be conducted in rebel-controlled parts of the north and east.
However, election officials have said polling stations will most likely be set up in government-controlled territory for those from rebel-held areas to cast their ballot.
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anizam
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 19 Sep 2005 13:41:56 GMT Report for Abuse
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I do NOT believe in OPINION polls, especially in a country like SL. However, there are many in this form who do so. In fact someone (i cant remember who) was using the first opinion poll published by this group called P3 on this form, claiming that Mahinda was going to win. This is for the benfit of people like that. :) :)
Cheers
http://www.colombopage.com/archive/September19122428RA.html
PM Rajapaksa's popularity decreased by 15% after signing political pacts - Survey
Sept 19, Colombo: Issuing their second interim report on the Sri Lankan presidential poll, the Netherlands-based research group P3 (People, Press and Politics) says that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's popularity dropped by 15% after he signed political pacts with the JVP and JHU.
?Earlier sixty-three percent of Sri Lankans believe that popular Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will be appointed as next President of Sri Lanka. However, he loses his popularity significantly after he signed two political pacts with Marxist JVP and hardliners JHU,? the P3 Center report said.
The report added that Premier Rajapaksa?s own party members including President Chandrika Kumaratunga showed their disapproval for the political pacts publicly.
It also said that UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe?s campaign for the presidency has now emerged at the national level and enjoys support and confidence from the country?s business class.
?Opposition leader?s campaign is rapidly growing up and he is handling all political forces strategically for his victory,? the report said. The P3 Center is an independent opinion research group that studies attitudes toward the press, politics and public policy issues. |
muniraj16
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 19 Sep 2005 14:00:35 GMT Report for Abuse
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Nice day to hold the elections...coz the victory results for Mahinda R will be received on his B'day...ela..ela...
Chao... |
muniraj16
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19 Sep 2005 14:04:35 GMT Report for Abuse
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Hi anizam...
though you say that Mahinda's popularity has dropped by 15%...still it ll be above 50%...coz they say that it has dropped from current level of 63%(acording to you)...isn't it my dear???meaning that the victory is sure for Mahinda R...hope you ll not get confused by this...hehehheh
Chao... |
AnuD
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 19 Sep 2005 14:15:01 GMT Report for Abuse
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Netharlands peoples poll is biased. By phone and they do not give any details how many people were asked, who sponsored this poll, what questions were asked, statistical analysis, Whether they asked only the rich businessmen. This may be for only one income level.
GOSL area polling stations for LTTE area tamils does not work. Perhaps, nothing to do.
Edited By - AnuD - 19 Sep 2005 14:28:23 GMT |
anizam
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19 Sep 2005 14:23:54 GMT Report for Abuse
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Muniraj:
'though you say that Mahinda's popularity has dropped by 15%...still it ll be above 50%...'
THANK U VERY VERY VERY MUCH for PROVING to this forum your level of intelligence :) :) :). 63 - 15 = 48!! Where did you go to school???? U must have learned math from our JVP comreds or even better, Mahinda R himself. (wink)
Also - i did NOT say anything. I do NOT believe in opinion polls. Its the opinion polls that said this. NOT ME. Learn to read first before opening your mouth :) :).. Im not going to even ask where you learned to read from...
The ONLY reason i showed this was because, there were several people on this form, who used the first opinion poll on this form to to push Mahindas popularity... I wonder what they have to say now :)..
I think that man who was going on about this was Gunepala (i might be mistaken).
Edited By - anizam - 19 Sep 2005 14:51:57 GMT |
anizam
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19 Sep 2005 14:31:50 GMT Report for Abuse
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Every one - This is what Muniraj said
'though you say that Mahinda's popularity has dropped by 15%...still it ll be above 50%...coz they say that it has dropped from current level of 63%(according to you)...isn't it my dear???meaning that the victory is sure for Mahinda R...hope you ll not get confused by this...hehehheh '
We have to applaud the Mathematical skills of Muniraj here. He thinks 63% - 15% is above 50%!! Can you beat that!!!! LOL LOL LOL :) :)
This is the type of Mathematics the JVP uses on poor village folks!! Now Mahinda has adopted the same Maths.
Anyways, NOW alot of things about Muniraj is becoming clear. Muniraj - I sincerely apologize for trying to argue with U, about issues on this forum. NOW, your comments are beginning to make alot of sense!! :) :)..
There is a saying 'YOu can discuss issues with intelligent people, but never ever with an IDIOT!!' So from now on i will never ever argue with you, cos we know who you are!! :) :) :) :)
Cheers
Edited By - anizam - 19 Sep 2005 14:52:38 GMT |
anizam
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19 Sep 2005 14:44:22 GMT Report for Abuse
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AnuD - I HONESTLY dont know if THIS P3 is biased, but in a country like SL, opinion polls are VERY UNRELIABLE.
I STRONGLY believe, Ranil Wickramasingha will be the President of SL on the 18th of November, 2005. :) :). BUt, NOT Becuase this opinion polls says so. I believe he will be President because of the Leader he is, because of his proven track record, because of his abilities and because of the stand he has taken on issues. NOt because of a UNREALIABLE OPINION poll.
The ONLY reason i showed this here was just to have some fun with people like POOPSY, Gunepala and the likes.
However, to my utter SURPRISE, Muniraj, jumped in and put his foot in the mouth :) :), by showing us his mathematical skills!!! :) :). Knowing how famous this guy is for falling all over his own puke, i should not have been surprised. :) :) :) - so an added bonus for me on this dull Monday morning :) :)
Cheers
PS : President Ranil Wickramasingha!!! Doesnt that sound soo good??? :) :) |
AnuD
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19 Sep 2005 15:13:15 GMT Report for Abuse
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AniZam:
Is Ranil a christian?
or he has a lot of relatives who are christians?. |
anizam
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19 Sep 2005 15:21:01 GMT Report for Abuse
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AnuD:
How is that relevant to this topic???
Im the WRONG person to ask about a persons race, religion or color, and how its related to a persons abilities. I couldnt care less, as to what RAnil or Mahindas race or religion is. I Follow those 'GOLDEN words' of Laxman Kadirgama - when he said 'Im not a Sinhalese or a Tamil. Im a Srilankan'!!
But to respond to your question - From what i have HEARD of 'Ranils Grand Father was a Christian and he converted to Buddism' - thats all i know and ALL I CARE TO KNOW...And Before RAnils Grand father converted to Christianity, they were Buddists - at least thats what i have heard of. Anyways, none of that matters to me.
Only BANKRUPT people with nothing else to talk about will bring race and religion as an issue in a Presidential election. :) :) :) |
piranha
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 19 Sep 2005 15:25:24 GMT Report for Abuse
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If this election is, as widely believed, to be a referendum on the peace process, I suspect Mahinda has already lost it by his hasty and unwise alliance with the JVP and the JHU who have openly vowed to abrogate the ceasefire agreement. This means resumption of war and there is no other interpretation for it.
I hope Sri Lankans of all races are intelligent enough to understand this and also realise that it would be a war unwinnable by either side. Despite Thamilchelvan's view that the LTTE cannot trust neither candidate, I am sure the overwhelming majority of Tamils will vote for peace and Ranil.
In addition if Mahinda acts on his promise to follow JVPs economic policies, say good bye to prosperity.
Mahinda = No peace = No prosperity |
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