CWC to announce its stand on presidential election

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 October 2005, 04:16 GMT]
The Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC), leading political party in the hill country representing upcountry Tamils is to officially announce its position in the forthcoming presidential election Wednesday morning at a media briefing held at Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo. The CWC is a constituent of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government.

The CWC has 6 MPs in the Sri Lankan parliament and holds two ministerial portfolios in the government.

After weeks of speculation following several rounds of talks held by the CWC leader Mr.Arumugam Thondaman with the two presidential candidates, the party leadership is reported to have taken a decision to support the opposition presidential candidate Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, CWC sources said.

Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, Sri Lanka's Prime Minister and the ruling party presidential candidate said recently that CWC's decision against him will not deter his victory in the poll which is to take place on November 17.

The SLFP has put up posters with the photograph of Mr.Sowmiyamoorthy Thondaman, founder President of the CWC with the Prime Minister Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse.

Mr.Arumugam Thondaman has lodged a complaint with the Police against SLFP putting up this poster, claiming that it gives an impression to voters that the CWC is supporting the ruling party candidate.

The CWC leader Mr.Arumugam Thondaman is grandson of the founder President late Mr.Sowmiyamoorthy Thondaman.