UPFA to contest three Jaffna local councils

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 February 2006, 16:26 GMT]
Ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is contesting three local councils in Jaffna district, Chavakachcheri, Point Pedro and Valvettithurai urban councils, and has submitted nomination papers for these councils, election officials in Jaffna said. For the Jaffna Municipal Council only three political parties Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) and PLOTE-EPRLF (Varathar wing) have submitted nominations.

Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) according to an agreement reached between EPDP and UPFA, is not contesting in the elections to the three councils contested by UPFA.

ITAK, EPDP and PLOTE-EPRLF have submitted their nominations to all other local government bodies in the peninsula, Thursday Feb. 2006, at the District returning officer's office, well before 1200 hrs, the government's deadline to submit nominations, election officials said.

Though the Muslim Congress party, the All Ceylon Muslim Congress party and an independent group had announced their intention of contesting the polls, officials said that they did not submit nominations.

The Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians Mavai Senathirajah, Raviraj, Sivanesan and Sivajilingam arrived at the district returning office and submitted their nominations list at 11.15 am on Thursday, sources said.

Minister Douglas Devananda, secretary general EPDP, arrived at 9 am, Thursday, in an vehicle escorted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, police personnel and a Buffel armoured vehicle, to give his party's nomination list, sources said.

Douglas Devananda earlier arrived at the Palaly airport and brought to Thuraippa stadium in an Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter and was then escorted to the District returning office. After submitting the nominations Mr Devananda returned to Colombo with the same security arrangement.

An independent group, which had paid the deposit for nomination, did not submit the nomination before the stipulated time, sources said.

The area around the Returning office was heavily guarded by SLA and Police officers from early morning Thursday throughout the day, sources said.