Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO653
2008-07-08 09:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: TWO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS SET
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000653
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TWO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS SET
FOR AUGUST 23RD
REF: COLOMBO 571
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT O. BLAKE, JR. REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000653
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TWO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS SET
FOR AUGUST 23RD
REF: COLOMBO 571
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT O. BLAKE, JR. REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
1. (U) SUMMARY: The Sri Lankan Election Commission set
August 23rd as the date for two Provincial Council elections
in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces. The
campaigns in both provinces are likely to revolve around the
government's war strategy versus the opposition's emphasis on
pocketbook issues, corruption and the rollback of democratic
norms. End Summary.
2. (U) On July 4 the Sri Lankan Election Commission set
August 23rd as the date for the North Central (NCP) and
Sabaragamuwa Province (SP) elections. The ruling UPFA
coalition has nominated incumbents Berty Premalal Dissanayake
(NCP) and Mahipala Herath (SP) as Chief Minister (CM)
candidates. The UNP has named former Army Chief of Staff
Major General Janaka Perera to lead their slate in the NCP,
but has yet to name a Chief Minister candidate for SP. (Actor
Rajnan Ramanayake, a former Catholic, who converted to
Buddhism July 3, is seen as the most likely candidate).
3. (SBU) The campaigns in these predominantly Buddhist areas
will pit the ruling coalition UPFA's support for the
government's war strategy against the UNP's emphasis on the
cost of living, corruption and the intimidation of civil
society during the past two years. The UNP's selection of
retired Major General Perera as its standard-bearer in the
north is an attempt to insulate itself from the charge that
it can't be trusted to take the threat from the LTTE
seriously and to help ensure the vote is as free and fair as
possible. UPFA political organizers told PolFSN that
government rice subsidies have built support in the farming
communities that dominate both provinces. They also reported
that the largest number of recruits to the army come from the
NCP, generating increased income when army salaries are sent
home to the villages.
4. (SBU) The August 23rd vote will also be the first test
for former JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa's new
National Freedom Front (NFF) party. NFF's ability to attract
JVP voters away from the opposition and to the President's
UPFA coalition will be a key factor determining whether the
President's party wins control of both Councils, where the
JVP held 10 (SP) and 8 (NCP) seats. The TMVP has included a
member in the UPFA coalition's list for the Polonnaruwa
district (NCP) where there is a significant Tamil population.
UNP leaders report that the TMVP have opened a number of
offices in the district.
5. (C) COMMENT: The GSL scheduled these elections partly to
take advantage of momentum generated by its success, albeit
tainted, in the recent Eastern provincial council elections.
While both sides express confidence in their ability to win,
the government enters the campaign with the clear advantage
of government resources at its disposal and a perception
among some voters that their province would receive less
support from Colombo if led by the opposition. We anticipate
a heated campaign and note that there have already been
reports of isolated incidents of violence where those putting
up JVP posters in SP have been assaulted. End Comment
BLAKE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TWO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS SET
FOR AUGUST 23RD
REF: COLOMBO 571
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT O. BLAKE, JR. REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
1. (U) SUMMARY: The Sri Lankan Election Commission set
August 23rd as the date for two Provincial Council elections
in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces. The
campaigns in both provinces are likely to revolve around the
government's war strategy versus the opposition's emphasis on
pocketbook issues, corruption and the rollback of democratic
norms. End Summary.
2. (U) On July 4 the Sri Lankan Election Commission set
August 23rd as the date for the North Central (NCP) and
Sabaragamuwa Province (SP) elections. The ruling UPFA
coalition has nominated incumbents Berty Premalal Dissanayake
(NCP) and Mahipala Herath (SP) as Chief Minister (CM)
candidates. The UNP has named former Army Chief of Staff
Major General Janaka Perera to lead their slate in the NCP,
but has yet to name a Chief Minister candidate for SP. (Actor
Rajnan Ramanayake, a former Catholic, who converted to
Buddhism July 3, is seen as the most likely candidate).
3. (SBU) The campaigns in these predominantly Buddhist areas
will pit the ruling coalition UPFA's support for the
government's war strategy against the UNP's emphasis on the
cost of living, corruption and the intimidation of civil
society during the past two years. The UNP's selection of
retired Major General Perera as its standard-bearer in the
north is an attempt to insulate itself from the charge that
it can't be trusted to take the threat from the LTTE
seriously and to help ensure the vote is as free and fair as
possible. UPFA political organizers told PolFSN that
government rice subsidies have built support in the farming
communities that dominate both provinces. They also reported
that the largest number of recruits to the army come from the
NCP, generating increased income when army salaries are sent
home to the villages.
4. (SBU) The August 23rd vote will also be the first test
for former JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa's new
National Freedom Front (NFF) party. NFF's ability to attract
JVP voters away from the opposition and to the President's
UPFA coalition will be a key factor determining whether the
President's party wins control of both Councils, where the
JVP held 10 (SP) and 8 (NCP) seats. The TMVP has included a
member in the UPFA coalition's list for the Polonnaruwa
district (NCP) where there is a significant Tamil population.
UNP leaders report that the TMVP have opened a number of
offices in the district.
5. (C) COMMENT: The GSL scheduled these elections partly to
take advantage of momentum generated by its success, albeit
tainted, in the recent Eastern provincial council elections.
While both sides express confidence in their ability to win,
the government enters the campaign with the clear advantage
of government resources at its disposal and a perception
among some voters that their province would receive less
support from Colombo if led by the opposition. We anticipate
a heated campaign and note that there have already been
reports of isolated incidents of violence where those putting
up JVP posters in SP have been assaulted. End Comment
BLAKE