In the South, big guns battle out big issues
Anthony David in the Southern province. Pix by Lakshman Gunatillake and Indika Handuwala
The sights and sounds of the deep South are still alluring though the transformation from a rural setting to concrete jungle is clearly evident. The lush green paddy with the harvest due in weeks sways as the gentle wind blows. Vast stretches of banana plantations seem unending. Harvest of the seasoned fruits are underway. Some are being loaded on to lorries with the banana leaves serving as packaging material.
Pumpkin, ash pumpkin and a variety of vegetables are stacked high at makeshift outlets – all signs of the rural prosperity as we drive past Embilipitiya, Thanamalvila towards Tissamaharama.
The enchanting sounds of a variety of birds is harmonious. Species which had flown from the foothills of the Himalayas to escape the biting cold are gathered around water pools. Buffaloes roam freely in herds. Shepherding them is an old man on a motor cycle, a change from one in amudey (loin cloth) with a stick in hand.
The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport, touted as the only airport in the world where the fewest number of planes land, is growing to become an ugly sight. The once well manicured bougainvillea plants of various hues that divide the four lane highway are dying. In some areas weeds have taken over. As night falls, herds of elephants roam. They outnumber the passengers meant to use the airport.
A well paved highway from Mattala to Hambantota is almost deserted barring sporadic traffic. Sign boards warn of elephant crossings. A journey to Hambantota along the route tells the same story.
A Port has replaced the paddy fields and other farming areas. The locals including the villagers are not fortunate enough to see what is going on inside except to be told there is development activity. They require permission from bigwig bureaucrats in Colombo. Armed Navy personnel and private security groups guard the area much the same way they would protect a nuclear reactor in a foreign land.
Rajapaksa International Convention Centre stands divided by a jungle patch from the port. It is protected by a concrete frame wall with steel mesh. Even if there are no international conferences, visitors are entertained to a new feat. Herds of elephants crash the wall from different places to parade on the road. When one side is broken and repaired, the other side is breached. The game continues.
In just five days from now, voters in these areas will have to decide whether they would opt for more change or remain faithful to the old system. The polls will be held on February 10, and the main contenders are making their pitch at meetings.
In the Southern Province on the whole, party leaders were crisscrossing towns addressing meetings while senior politicians from other districts were being invited to speak at pocket meetings of candidates.
Although the interest and enthusiasm among voters were picking up slowly, party leaders and senior members were not taking things lightly with President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressing several meetings and some of them even billed to return to the province to address meetings within the next three days.
"This may be a local election where voters are more interested in issues concerning the village, but political parties are taking it seriously and it's like a national election," Sachindra Weragala, a young voter from Galle said.
A visit by a team from the Sunday Times revealed that in contrast to other districts, nation- al issues such as the impact of the proposed constitution, the Treasury
Bond issue, the Hambantota Port deal, failure to take action against those involved in corruption were topics that came up during campaign meetings.
In the Hambantota district, elections are being held for one Municipal Council (Hambantota), one
Urban Council (Tangalle) and 10 Pradesiya Sabhas; with a total of 479,498 voters.
The district has seen some of the largest projects including Mattala airport, Sooriyawewa international cricket stadium and the Port development, but employment generation has been minimal.
Though in most areas Election Commission officers have been tough in implementing election laws, the JVP member here claims that cabinet ministers in the district were misusing state property including the services of public sector employees and state vehicles.
"There are instances where chits are being issued for people to buy liquor from the bar or to obtain 10 cement bags. These are sometimes difficult to prove and no action has been taken," Sarath Chandrasekara Yapa, a JVP a candidate for the Lunugamvehera Pradeshiya Sabha said.
"Application forms for the recruitment of persons to the Housing Department are being distributed. I have complained to the Elections Department and I hope action will be taken. UNP candidates are offering housing loans on the basis that they will get the second instalment only if they come for canvassing," he said.
In a humorous twist, one of the residents in the district had turned up at a UNP campaign meeting and received 10 bags of cement, but the following day he joined a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). Following this a UNP candidate had taken away his bags of cement.
In Hambantota where elections are being held for the Municipal Council for which 21 members will be elected, a former Mayor, Eraj Fernando who figured in a 2015 incident where UNP members were attacked, is re-contesting for
the post under the UPFA ticket, and is facing competition from the SLPP and UNP candidates.
In the Matara district, elections are being held for the Matara Municipal Council where 28 members will be returned, and for two Urban Councils-Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa. In addition, polls are being conducted for 15 Pradeshiya Sabhas. Some 644,800 voters are registered to vote.
The lack of development, new projects and delays in compensating flood-affected people, in addition to internal squabbles among leaders of the main parties are impacting the voting patterns.
The UNP and the SLFP have an advantage for the Weligama Urban Council after the SLFP nominations were rejected and both main parties canvassing for the SLPP votes.
"We expect that some of them will vote with us as they do not like the SLFP members, but we are not dependent on those votes and are confident of winning the council," UNP candidate Janaka Wimalasena said.
The campaign in the Matara district was reaching its peak by Wednesday, with as many as 25 meetings being held on that day alone and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera addressing most of them.
"The former Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has said that people should not look at who the candidate is, but to vote for the ‘Flower bud’ (SLPP), but we say that our candidates are clean and that you can see who the candidates and vote for them, whereas only rougues are contesting for them," Mr Samaraweera told a campaign rally.
In the Galle district, 848,877 voters are registered to elect members to one Municipal Council (Galle) where 35 members will be elected; and two Urban Councils (Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa). Elections will be held for 16 of the 17 Pradeshiya Sabhas as polls for the Elpitiya PS has been delayed
on a court order.
One of the main promises made by the UNP in the campaign has been the Deduwa tourist development project that would cover the Bentota area. A video presentation of the project was displayed on election stages.
The main thrust of the SLPP campaign has been on the grounds that the vote should be cast to show gratitude to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for defeating the LTTE and for his campaign against the sale of state ventures.
UPFA candidate for the same Pradeshiya Sabha, A.W.Susil Kumara said the campaign is being carried out on the grounds that the Government has already helped to develop the area and further development could be obtained by voting for them.
"We will win this council as the area has already seen several development projects such as the renovation of the Habaraduwa railway station, new shopping complex in Ahanggama and a vocational training center among others," he said.
Women candidates contesting the elections too have generated interest as some of them have experience serving in various societies and voluntary organisations in the area.
Thilini Medagoda, contesting for the Bentota Pradeshiya Shabha from the UNP was the Deputy Speaker in the Youth Parliament and she says her experience as a social worker and coming from a background of family members who were involved in politics will help her serve the people.
"I have plans to train youth for jobs which will come up in the tourist sector through the Deduwa project in Bentota. I will also resolve the lack of potable water," Ms Medagoda said.
Additional reporting: Sumathipala Diayagahage (Galle), Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk (Matara) and Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi (Hambantota)