Sri Lanka police in Jaffna refuses permission to civic election candidates of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to conduct public meetings. Instead, the ‘advise’ the candidates to engage in door-to-door campaign. But in the meantime, presidential sibling Basil Rajapaksa and a team of 13 SL ministers are camping in Jaffna to conduct Colombo’s campaign in various ways, misusing SL government’s administration and resources, complain the TNA candidates. SL president Mahinda Rajapaksa is also expected in Jaffna to campaign for the civic elections in the guise of opening a school building and laying foundation stones for certain projects.
Even the UNP candidates are refused permission to conduct election meetings.
While the TNA candidates are intimidated in every way, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s SLFP and SL minister Doughlas Devananda’s EPDP contesting under SLFP emblem are in full swing in the north in using government machinery and officers for the campaign work.
Village level welfare officers called Samurthi officers are the most exploited in this regard by Colombo.
This week, as a part of the campaign work, presidential sibling Basil Rajapaksa opened the Thondaimaanaa’ru – Achchuveli Road that was for the last 28 years closed for public use by the occupying military. This road borders the Valikaamam High Security Zone.
Basil Rajapaksa also opened a resettlement programme at E’luthumadduvaa’l in Thenmaraadchi division.
Meanwhile, SL president Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to visit Jaffna on 18 July to open a building block at Koappaay Naavalar School. The occupying SL Army constructed this block from the funds allocated by the Uva Provincial Council, the Chief Minister of which is the son of another presidential sibling, Chamal Rajapaksa.
During his visit, Mahinda Rajapaksa is also expected to lay foundation stones for a playground at Ki’linochchi and a new administrative building for the Jaffna Municipal Council.
TN
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