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Which
way South? Residents of Hambanthota complain that whenever an election comes up politicians of all hues promise to look into the problem of water scarcity to carryout farming- but it has always remained just another election promise. The main problem that 40,000 farmer families face in Hambanthota is the lack of an alternative irrigation scheme to the Lunugamvehera irrigation scheme built during the time of the late President J.R. Jayewardene. When the UNF government took office in 2001 it had promised an alternative to the irrigation scheme within three months but the promise is still to be fulfilled, farmers complain. "We have been suffering from a shortage of water for a long time. Therefore what we desperately needed from any government that came to power was a good irrigation system. In 2001 the government promised to give us water by cutting across the Uma oya but that didn't materialise," a farmer, K.Gunapala complained. Among the farmers we met were those who had missed two to three paddy seasons because they didn't have water. " I couldn't cultivate during the last Yala and Maha seasons as there was no water for my paddy field," lamented farmer D.J. Mendis. Fertilizer subsidy is another issue that will make the people think twice before casting their votes. They complained that under the PA government they were able to get a bag of fertilizer for Rs. 350 but now it costs Rs. 850. In Matara, unemployment, the problems of fishermen and acts of political violence will play a deciding role in the political trend. In the past few years the southern fishermen have been badly affected by foreign fishing craft that have invaded Sri Lankan waters. Fishermen complain their appeals to the then Fisheries Minister Mahinda Wijesekara to take some action were of little use. They charge that the minister gave permission to 250 foreign fishing craft to unload their catch and sell it in Sri Lanka. Though foreign craft especially from China and Thailand were only allowed to unload their catch here after fishing in international waters, fishermen complain their movements at sea have been restricted because of these craft. They also complain that their boats and fishing gear have been damaged by these craft. "Every week at least five boats and fishing gear are damaged by these foreign crafts," R.K. Chandrasoma, a boat owner in Galle said. The conduct of certain politicians in the recent past will also be a deciding factor in the upcoming polls. People are particularly angry with a local politician whom they blame for the recent assault on unemployed graduates and his control over fisheries resources. In Galle too the grievances of fishermen will have an impact on the polls. Here too the fishermen complain of foreign fishing craft from China and Thailand. A group of angry fishermen in Hikkaduwa told The Sunday Times that as many as 300 foreign craft fish in their territory affecting them both physically and financially. They say it is unfortunate that authorities are doing little about the matter. Another burning problem in the Southern Province is unemployment which is on the increase. Since farmers are struggling against the drought and fishermen are drowning in a sea of unsolved problems the number of unemployed persons have increased. Residents also complain that the government has done little recruiting in the past two years. The Association for Unemployed Graduates of the Southern Province say there are more than 7,000 unemployed graduates and 35,000 to 40,000 unemployed youths who have completed their O Levels or A levels in the Southern province. Amidst all this gloom, the people are at least relieved that the ongoing ceasefire has saved their kith and kin from being killed in the battle field. Most of the soldiers who were killed during the past 20 years have been from the Southern province. When it comes to the election campaign the UPFA appears to be taking the lead role with the UNF still to launch its campaign in full scale. In the Alliance, the JVP appears to be surpassing all other parties in the campaign. In Hambanthota district especially in Tissamaharamaya the JVP propaganda machine is at the forefront with a sea of red flags and posters coming up at every nook and corner. Campaigns by other parties are yet to begin in the area. In the Matara district there appears to be a propaganda battle between two heavy weights -Mahinda Wijesekara and Mangala Samaraweera. In Galle the campaign has taken an intense turn with popular candidates like Gayantha Karunathilake and Hemakumara Nanayakkara contesting from the UNF ticket and Amarasiri Dodangoda and Beddegama Samitha Thero contesting from the Alliance. While there appears to be a major battle among popular candidates in the Matara district, for preferential votes (see the box story) there are charges that the JVP is trying to sideline former Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse from entering Parliament. Mahinda Rajapakse's supporters in the area charge that the JVP while canvassing for their two candidates Nihal Galappatti and Wijitha Ranaweera, are also asking the people to vote for another PA member instead of the former Opposition Leader. Residents believe that the reason for this could be that Mahinda Rajapakse was initially opposed to forming an alliance with the JVP and that he is also a contestant for the premiership in the event of an alliance government. An interesting observation was the JVP's apparent backing in the Matara district for Mangala Samaraweera who was partly instrumental in forming the alliance with the JVP. Sources in the area say that the JVP while canvassing for former MP Jinadasa Kitulegoda and provincial councillor Pemasiri Manage, also urge the people to vote Mr. Samaraweera as well. Though the JVP is carrying out a vigorous election campaign in the Southern Province to make the newly formed alliance victorious, the JVP's 1988-89 insurgency still haunts the people. The campaign of the Hela Jathika Urumaya is still to make an impact in the southern province. The
battle begins Former Minister of Indigenous Medicine Amarasiri Dodangoda, Former MPs Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thero, Noel Padmasiri Kariyawasam, K.H.G Nanda Gunasinghe who are coming on the UPFA ticket along with three JVPers Former MP Chandrasena Don Wijesinghe, Former Provincial Councilors Thilakarathne Vithanachchi and Ajith Kumara, are competing against Former Minister of Public Administration Vajira Abeywardena, Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara, Former MPs Jayantha Jayaweera, Ananda Abeywickrama and Spokesperson Gayantha Karunathilaka who are contesting on the UNF ticket , for the 10 seats in the Galle district. For the 8 seats in the Matara district, the UPFA is fielding Chief Opposition Whip Mangala samaraweera, Deputy Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Former MP Chandrasiri Gajadeera along with Former MP Jinadasa Kithulegoda and Former Provincial Councilor Premasiri Manage from the JVP. Former Fisheries Minister Mahinda Wijesekara, Former Deputy Minister Sagala Rathnayake, Former MPs Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene Justin Galappaththi will be coming on the UNF ticket. While there is an intense competition between the UNF and the UPFA in Hambantota, there also appears to be stiff competition within the Alliance itself to sideline Former Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse. Insiders from the JVP and the SLFP say the JVP who has launched its own island wide campaign to promote its 39 contestants, has embarked on a fierce covert battle against Mahinda Rajapakse. Former MPs Chamal Rajapakse and Nirupama Rajapakse are contesing from the UPFA while former Southern Region Development minister Ananda Kularathne, Deputy Health Minister Sajith Premadasa, Deputy Chairman of Committees Siri Andrahennadi and Former MP Dilip Vedaarachchi are contesting from the UNF. We
can’t forget the past Sarath Bandula (35), lost five members of his family including his father. Recalling that period of terror he said although he was shot in the leg he survived. But his four brothers, J.M. Nandasiri, Padmasiri, Jayasiri and Chandrasiri were allegedly abducted by the JVP and later killed. "They killed two of my brothers on the same day and others on a later day. They came again for my father and that's the last we saw or heard of him," Sarath Bandula said. "My brothers were in the gem trade and when ransom was demanded from them they refused to pay." "I can never forget the past. Ironically it is the very same PA government that has now formed an alliance with the JVP that paid compensation for my brothers' killings. Still grieving, Sarath Bandula's mother too says she will never forget the past. Doing
it the JVP way Commenting on some of its achievements, the Chairman, H.A. Jayasiri said under the 'people-involved development programme' they minimised the gap between the politicians and the people. He said that they have worked hard to wipe out waste and corruption. He also said the Pradeshiya Sabha has been able to cut down on expenses by not giving out contracts but by handling the projects themselves. He said even the administrative staff has cooperated by using official resources such as vehicles, and electricity prudently. Some of the projects that have been implemented by the Pradeshiya Sabha include the pre-school development, carreer guidance and vocational training, road development, pottery and earthenware, environmental conservation, health revitalization, senior citizens preservation centres, agricultural development and waste management.
Party offices? Police can only tear down posters if they are pasted on private or public property. But if posters are pasted on a party office police cannot tear them off. These little boutique-like offices don't look like party offices but look more like poster shops. Posters displaying pictures of both UPFA and UNP candidates have come up on these boutique-like party offices. |
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