ITAK uncontested in Verugal local council

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 February 2006, 11:41 GMT]
Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK) was elected uncontested in the Verugal Pradesiya Sabah in the Trincomalee district when submission of nomination lists for the thirteen local authorities closed Thursday at noon. Mr.Bandara Mapa, Assistant Commissioner of Elections said the Commissioner of Elections would take further steps regarding the appointment of chairman and vice chairman for the Verugal PS soon, election department sources said.

The newly created Verugal local authority is located in the LTTE held Eachchilampathu divisional secretary division.

Elections will be held to other twelve local authorities except Verugal.

The ITAK is contesting urban councils of Trincomalee and Kinniya, pradesiya sabai of Trincomalee town and gravets, Kuchchaveli, Morawewa, Kinniya, Thambalakamam, Kantalai, Seruvila, and Muttur.

The EPDP filed nomination papers for Trincomalee UC, Trincomalee PS, Thambalakamam PS, Kuchchaveli PS and Muttur PS.

The main opposition UNP did not file nomination list for Trincomalee Urban Council, Muttur PS and Verugal. The UNP filed nomination papers for the balance local authorities.

The ruling UPFA is contesting Kinniya UC, Kinniya PS, Thambalakamam PS, Kantalai PS, Seruvila PS, Gomarankadawela PS, Padavi Siripura, Morawewa PS, and Kuchchaveli PS

Nomination lists of several independent groups and three of the Democratic Unity Alliance (DUA) were rejected for reasons for not adhering regulations of the election laws such as providing original birth certificates of the candidates who are under the age between 18 and 35. Only nomination list of the DUA was accepted for the election of Thambalakamam PS, sources said.

Mr.Susil Premajayanth, Minister and the Secretary of the ruling UPFA arrived in Trincomalee accompanied Mr. Abdul Majeed Mohamed Najeeb by helicopter and rushed to the election office ten minutes to beat the deadline 12 noon to submit UPFA nomination lists.