UNP will support steps to end war

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 December 1999, 18:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) today said it would extend its support to the President Chandrika Kumaratunge if she took firm and reasonable steps to end the island's protracted conflict.
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Elections 'most fraudulent ever' - UNP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 December 1999, 14:47 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Presidential elections held last Tuesday were the most fraudulent in the history of the country, declared Mr . Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) today at a press conference.
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'General' rigging in Jaffna claimed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 December 1999, 10:55 GMT]
The large number of votes garnered by fringe and extremist Sinhala political parties based in the south in the presidential polls held in Jaffna, indicated general rigging had been conducted, officials in the northern town said Wednesday.
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Kumaratunge vows relentless battle against 'hatred'

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 December 1999, 15:52 GMT]
(NEWS FEATURE) Mrs Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, after being sworn in as Sri Lanka's fifth Executive President this afternoon at her official residence Temple Trees before the Chief Justice, vowed to "rid this land of death and destruction." Political commentators said it indicated her speech heralded a stronger effort to defeat the Liberation Tigers militarily.
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Election photographs

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 December 1999, 00:33 GMT]
Views of some of Sri Lanka's electorate casting their votes in the Presidential elections on December 21.
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Batticaloa voters seen favouring UNP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 21 December 1999, 10:00 GMT]
As voting continues in the eastern Batticaloa district, TamilNet correspondents there say voters' sentiments favour Sri Lanka's opposition United National Party (UNP).
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UNP office smashed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 December 1999, 12:22 GMT]
The UNP office at Eravur, 15 km. north of Batticaloa, was smashed by unidentified men around midnight yesterday said United National Party parliamentarian Alisagir Maulana.
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State media's biased role

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 December 1999, 06:04 GMT]
Several Presidential candidates complained to the Commissioner of Elections last week that the People's Alliance (PA) has been misusing the government controlled media during the Presidential elections.
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Artistes protest PA assaults

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 December 1999, 19:39 GMT]
A group of Sinhala artistes demonstrated at Lipton Circus in Colombo today around noon, protesting against the alleged assault on some of them by supporters of the ruling People's Alliance, sources said.
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Ranil says confident, keen on talks

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 December 1999, 15:01 GMT]
"Give me chance to talk with the Liberation Tigers" said Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party candidate for next Tuesday's presidential election, Ranil Wickremasinghe. He was addressing the last press conference, before the elections, this morning in Colombo.
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UNP upbeat on interim council

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 December 1999, 17:07 GMT]
Ranil Wickremasinghe, Presidential Candidate of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party today addressing election meetings in Trincomalee and Akkaraipattu in the eastern province said that if he's elected,he would form an interim administrative council for the North-East,with special arrangements to safeguard the interests of Sinhalese and Muslims.
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UNP's Counsel argues PA decision is correct

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 December 1999, 07:53 GMT]
President's Counsel K. N. Chokesy, appearing for the UNP Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremasinghe, told yesterday the Court of Appeal that the appointment of an Acting Commissioner of Elections by President Chandrika Kumaratunge was an the exercise of the powers vested on her by the Constitution. Therefore, he argued, it was in compliance with the Constitution that this appointment has been made.
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New cameras for journalists

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 December 1999, 19:27 GMT]
Journalists whose equipment was smashed, allegedly by pro-government activists, during a rally on July 15 organised by the main opposition United National Party (UNP), received new cameras at a function held in Colombo today.
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Demonstration by PA supporters

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 December 1999, 19:10 GMT]
Hundreds of supporters of the ruling People's Alliance (PA) demonstrated today at the Liptons Circus in Colombo and burnt the effigy of Ranil Wickremasinghe, the main opposition party candidate for the presidential election.
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Expelled UNP MPs file case

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 December 1999, 14:43 GMT]
Four Parliamentarians Sarath Amunugama, Wijepala Mendis, Nantha Mathew, and Susil Moonesinghe have filed fundamental rights applications challenging their expulsion from the United National Party (UNP).
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Wickremasinghe accused found guilty

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 December 1999, 14:36 GMT]
The sensational abduction and extortion trial of Colombo based Aitken and Spence firm director G. C. Wickremasinghe came to an end yesterday with the High Court trial Judge Nimal Dissanayake finding all thirteen accused guilty.
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Ranil promises to resolve conflict

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 December 1999, 11:39 GMT]
The Presidential Candidate of the United National Party (UNP) and the Leader of the Opposition, Ranil Wickremasinghe, declared that if he is elected, he would stop the war. He also promised to restore the civil administration in the Northeast province, with the establishment of an Interim Council, which would include the representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Wickremasinghe was addressing his first election rally in the Tamil dominated north-eastern province this morning at Batticaloa town.
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UNP organiser's house searched

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 December 1999, 13:25 GMT]
The house of Mr. M. A. (Myown) Mustapha, a leading citizen in Kalmunai and a local leader of the United National Party (UNP) was thoroughly searched by the Police this morning, relatives said.
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UNP leader to tour Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 December 1999, 17:28 GMT]
Sources close to the main Sri Lankan opposition United National Party (UNP) said party leader and presidential candidate Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe will tour the eastern district of Batticaloa on Monday, 6 December, for campaigning.
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"Main candidates lying" -Hisbullah

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 December 1999, 15:08 GMT]
A Deputy Minister in the People's Alliance (PA) government has categorically said that people could expect an East Timor type of situation in the island if the present war continued for another few months. He further stated that no one could stop the intervention of the United Nations to conduct a referendum to decide the fate of the country.
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