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The UNP's main thrust in the election campaign would be salvaging the economy and ushering in a peaceful era through a political settlement of the North-East conflict, said the party's assistant leader Gamini Atukorale.
He said the UNP would hold a series of public rallies and over 200 electoral meetings on the theme " A country devoid of hunger- a land without war."
Mr. Atukorale said the UNP had identified key areas that needed immediate attention. They were the initiation of a process to democratize society, public welfare laws, employment generation, reducing the cost of living through income generation, creating more opportunities for youth, redeveloping tourism, airline and garment industries.
Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the UNP was keen to introduce an immediate political change to address burning issues and to prevent further brain drain from the country. "People have started leaving the shores because living in Sri Lanka does not auger well for their future.
In the first place, a new atmosphere should be created for the population to remain in their own country," he said.
The Sihala Urumaya election manifesto has ruled out devolution of power and offers to devolve administrative powers.
It has pledged to maintain and honour the unitary character of the state, enhance democratic rights and introduce an economic policy to create a sustainable growth in the country.
The party manifesto released this week has emphasized the need to strengthen the democratic foundations of the country. While recognising the registration of political parties espousing different schools of thought, the SU proposes the non-recognition of political parties pursuing racial goals opposing the Sinhala nation.
The country would be administered by a State Council comprising 250 members. Executive powers would be exercised by a 25- member Cabinet and each ministry would be supported by an executive committee comprising members from all parties to minimise political differences and ensure better decisions, the manifesto said.
The party has proposed to abolish legal systems based on ethnic and feudalistic requirements, such as, the Thesawalamai, the Roman-Dutch law, the English law and the Shariah law.
The SU has proposed compulsory military training for everybody to be conscripted when the need arises. The government would produce arms and ammunition and establish an academy of military training.
Pursuing its concept of Sinhala heritage, the SU has proposed to make Sinhala the state language. The head of the state would be made accountable to the Maha Sangha and he should make a pledge to uphold the principles of "Dasaraja Dharma", the manifesto said.
The People's Alliance manifesto was in the process of being finalised and would be out this week, Deputy Media Minister Alavi Moulana said yesterday.
The PA election campaign got underway on Friday in Anuradhapura with the participation of President Kumaratunga and other top leaders.
The day's events began with a pledge of allegiance to the party.
Among those who addressed the meeting were PA general secretary D. M. Jayaratne, Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and new comer to politics Arjuna Ranatunga.
In what could be a violation of election laws, the All Island Samurdhi Officers Association yesterday called on its members to vote for the PA at the December polls.
Jagath Kumara, president of the association, told The Sunday Times that at a meeting held last afternoon they unanimously agreed to call on all Samurdhi officers to vote for the PA.
"We want the PA to return to office so that it could complete projects such as Samurdhi that were started in 1994," Mr. Kumara said.
He said that Samurdhi officers who had in the past been accused of indulging in election malpractices, had been told not to get involved in any act that would undermine the democratic process.
Polls observers point out the association's appeal was contrary to last year's Supreme Court ruling which prevented Samurdhi officials from engaging in campaign work.
Mr. Kumara said the association had received letters supposedly from former Samurdhi minister and PA rebel S. B. Dissanayake, asking them to vote for the UNP, but said whatever the ex-minister said, they would vote for the PA.
By Shane Seneviratne
President's Secretary Kusumsiri Balapatabendi yesterday presided over a conference of government officials in the central province.
The meeting held at the Road Development Authority office at the district Secretariat, raised speculation that election related matters were discussed.
However, the Kandy District Secretary Sumana Bandara Beddewela told The Sunday Times that the meeting was to discuss development activities in the province.
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) would sit in the opposition benches in the next parliament as it had no agreement either with the UNP or the PA, vice president M. Sampanthan said yesterday.
Mr. Sampanthan was reacting to allegations from the PA and the JVP that the TULF had entered into an agreement with the UNP.
The allegations against the UNP were made soon after an Indian newspaper reported that the UNP would not be able to justify its links with the Tamil party alliance.
By Chandani Kirinde
They are the candidates you rarely see on television and read about in the newspapers. Their names and party symbols fade into insignificance among their more prominent counterparts but the also-rans in Sri Lanka's electoral contest keep fighting on for various causes they believe in.
In this year's general elections, there are 26 political parties and over a 100 independent groups contesting bringing the number of candidates vying for seats in the legislature to 4,610. Of these only 196 will be elected but that does not stop these hopefuls from trying.
The Ruhuna Janatha Party is among the numerous such parties. It is the country's only regional party contesting countrywide on a "platform of peace", its president Ajantha Soysa said.
He said smaller parties bring new ideas. "What we have is a ethnic problem that has grown into a terrorist menace. We have to find a way to end it soon.".
The New Left front (NLF) headed by Dr.Wickremabahu Karunaratne says his party is contesting the elections based on a four-point plan: pressurising the next government to break away from global capitalism, ensuring more autonomy to the minorities, the creation of a constitutional assembly to change the present Constitution and support the working class to win their rights.
Dr.Karunaratne said his party could muster around 100,000 votes and would gain a seat in the national list.
National Democratic Party general secretary S. A. Kandasamy said the party was contesting in the Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts. He said his party wanted to be an independent voice of the plantation workers to win their rights.
The Eksath Lanka Podujana Pakshaya secretary Lalith Vijetunga said they were contesting 19 seats in the Wanni district. He said the party's main thrust would be to end the North East conflict.
"We have people from all races and religions among our candidates. The 12 candidates we have fielded include Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese, he said.
The Socialist Equality Party secretary Wije Dias said they had fielded 24 candidates in the Colombo district. He said the party would offer a socialist programme.
It s sceretary Wije Dias said his party hoped to establish a socialist government.
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