Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COLOMBO1152
2009-12-17 12:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA ELECTIONS UPDATE NO.3
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001152
C O R R E C T E D COPY - ADDED PASSING INSTRUCTIONS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB
RELEASABLE TO: UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, SWITZERLAND
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA ELECTIONS UPDATE NO.3
Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA A. BUTENIS. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY
---------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001152
C O R R E C T E D COPY - ADDED PASSING INSTRUCTIONS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB
RELEASABLE TO: UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, SWITZERLAND
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA ELECTIONS UPDATE NO.3
Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA A. BUTENIS. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY
--------------
1. (C) With official nominations registered between 9:00 and
11:00 this morning, 23 candidates will be vying in the
January 26 presidential election. Both President Rajapaksa
from the UPFA and his main challenger former General Fonseka
of the UNF and JVP handed in their nominations while hundreds
of supporters waited outside. Eighteen of the 23 are running
from registered political parties and five as independents.
Despite the large number of declared candidates, the election
is expected to remain a two-man race between Rajapaksa and
Fonseka. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) so far remains
uncommitted.
ELECTIONS COMMISSIONER PROMISES TO TAKE TOUGH STANCE
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake announced
he would appoint a "competent authority" to monitor state
media in the run-up to the election. The competent authority
is supposed to ensure that state-run television, radio, and
print media give equal opportunities to the all the
candidates. Former Justice Silva and other opposition party
members have already raised concerns about state resources
being used for various events by the president. Dissanayake
has assured the parties that he would take a strong stance
against violators and would ensure fair elections. He has
directed the police to enforce restrictions that permit
posters and cut-outs to be displayed only at candidates'
campaign offices; subsequently, the number of such Rajapaksa
posters, which had numbered in the tens if not hundreds of
thousands in Colombo, has been significantly reduced. The
Election Commissioner also has directed the Registrar of
Persons to issue over two million national ID cards to
potential voters without such cards and that this be done
through local officials and not through central government
officials who could have an opportunity to influence voters
(such as those responsible for handing out food stamps).
DEFECTIONS CONTINUE ON BOTH SIDES
--------------
3.(C) Former Minister of Sports and Member of Parliament
Arjuna Ranatunga of the president's Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(SLFP) today announced he was switching alliance to General
Fonseka. The defection was a major setback for the
Rajapaksas. Ranatunga, a sports icon in a country obsessed
with cricket, had led Sri Lanka to victory against Australia
in the world cup. The opposition, on the other hand, also
suffered blows with two United National Party (UNP) MPs
switching to SLFP, pledging their support to the President,
and picking up Cabinet and non-Cabinet positions immediately.
BUTENIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY - ADDED PASSING INSTRUCTIONS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB
RELEASABLE TO: UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, SWITZERLAND
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA ELECTIONS UPDATE NO.3
Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA A. BUTENIS. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)
NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY
--------------
1. (C) With official nominations registered between 9:00 and
11:00 this morning, 23 candidates will be vying in the
January 26 presidential election. Both President Rajapaksa
from the UPFA and his main challenger former General Fonseka
of the UNF and JVP handed in their nominations while hundreds
of supporters waited outside. Eighteen of the 23 are running
from registered political parties and five as independents.
Despite the large number of declared candidates, the election
is expected to remain a two-man race between Rajapaksa and
Fonseka. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) so far remains
uncommitted.
ELECTIONS COMMISSIONER PROMISES TO TAKE TOUGH STANCE
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake announced
he would appoint a "competent authority" to monitor state
media in the run-up to the election. The competent authority
is supposed to ensure that state-run television, radio, and
print media give equal opportunities to the all the
candidates. Former Justice Silva and other opposition party
members have already raised concerns about state resources
being used for various events by the president. Dissanayake
has assured the parties that he would take a strong stance
against violators and would ensure fair elections. He has
directed the police to enforce restrictions that permit
posters and cut-outs to be displayed only at candidates'
campaign offices; subsequently, the number of such Rajapaksa
posters, which had numbered in the tens if not hundreds of
thousands in Colombo, has been significantly reduced. The
Election Commissioner also has directed the Registrar of
Persons to issue over two million national ID cards to
potential voters without such cards and that this be done
through local officials and not through central government
officials who could have an opportunity to influence voters
(such as those responsible for handing out food stamps).
DEFECTIONS CONTINUE ON BOTH SIDES
--------------
3.(C) Former Minister of Sports and Member of Parliament
Arjuna Ranatunga of the president's Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(SLFP) today announced he was switching alliance to General
Fonseka. The defection was a major setback for the
Rajapaksas. Ranatunga, a sports icon in a country obsessed
with cricket, had led Sri Lanka to victory against Australia
in the world cup. The opposition, on the other hand, also
suffered blows with two United National Party (UNP) MPs
switching to SLFP, pledging their support to the President,
and picking up Cabinet and non-Cabinet positions immediately.
BUTENIS