UNP decides to boycott Batticaloa local elections

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 January 2008, 11:22 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) Wednesday decided not to contest the elections to nine local authorities in the Batticaloa district in the eastern province. The Political Affairs Committee of the UNP met Wednesday with Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe in the chair and decided that the ground security situation in the Batticaloa district is not safe to conduct a free and fair election, party general secretary Mr.Tissa Attanayake said.

The party is also of opinion that the civil rule in Batticaloa district has been disturbed due to the free movement of armed groups supported by the government in the district.

Meanwhile, the number of political parties registered with the Department of Elections has been increased to 58 with five more new political parties registered to contest the local elections in the Batticaloa district, sources said.