Voter interest high despite dull election aura
The Sunday Times on the campaign trail in Northern, North Central and North Western Provinces Security, freedom and livelihood issues major concerns for people; Gota and Sajith intensify battles
Adrive through the roads and by lanes of three provinces – Northern, North Central and North Western -- tells the same story.
There are no visible sights and sounds of a presidential election. Posters, cutouts and banners are nowhere. The few exceptions are the decorated venues of political meetings. Other than that, life is as normal as it could be, but with a damper. That is the incessant rain that has flooded paddy fields and created muddy roads.
Strikingly in contrast, however, the voter interest is still high and there were increasing signs that a higher poll is not in doubt. Talking to a broader section of politicians and civilians in these three provinces, this was one of the most striking features we observed.
In the northern
Jaffna peninsula, where wild speculation spoke of an election boycott, it was a different story. The call for a boycott had been made by Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, leader of the one time powerful All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC).
Though varied in their views, many were united in thinking that they would cast their votes. “I have no problem voting for any candidate who will solve the problems of the Tamils,” says J.
Pathmanathan (64), a businessman, who hires out motor vehicles. T. Jeevithan (34), a father of two who is an insurance executive, however, is more cautious. “Business is not very good for us. The leasing market has collapsed. Living conditions are a big issue. Yet, there is a definite interest in elections. We enjoyed more freedom in the past years. We can say what we feel,” he declared.
However, A. Nithyanandan (44), who runs a tea shop, says, “I am not a UNP supporter. But I will vote for Sajith Premadasa this time. This is because Tamil parties like the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) are due to back him. Tamil people believe Premadasa has an edge,” he declared. This view is shared by 60-year-old dairy farmer S. Nagathevan. A. Mathiyawaran, a bus driver, is livid that Mr Ponnambalam has called for a polls boycott. “We will still go and exercise our franchise,” he exhorted.
At the Thirunelvely market in Jaffna, 68-year-old fruit vendor Sivapakiyam told us that her granddaughter continued to be unemployed despite having good qualifications. “It would be good if whoever wins can give more job opportunities to Northern youth,” she said.
While many in Jaffna were leaning towards Mr. Premadasa, there were those who expressed views in support of SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well.
Ratnasabapathi Surerajan (42), Secretary of the Nelliyadi Traders’ Association, predicts Gotabaya Rajapaksa will get at least 10 percent more of the overall vote than his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa got in the last election in 2015. Mr Rajapaksa obtained 21 percent in the Jaffna district at that election.
He claimed young people felt safer in the post-war era and as such, they were more likely to vote for those who were responsible for finishing the war.
Mr Surerajan also said the previous Government was responsible for more development and for giving more jobs to the North. “As a businessman, I can also say that trade links between the North and the South have redeveloped in the post-war era. Large private companies based in Colombo have expanded their operations in the North, thereby providing a lot of employment opportunities for young people. Southern tourists are also visiting the North in large numbers and this has uplifted the region’s economy.”
Selvaratnam Jeyanathan (55) runs an ice storage plant on Delft Island. He told the Sunday Times that life has changed a lot for the better since the end of the war and said people in Delft will vote for Gotabaya in large numbers.
“The majority of people here engage in fishing for their livelihood. There were a lot of restrictions on fishing during the war. It was also difficult to keep fish in storage as the island did not have an ice storage plant. I managed to open my plant after the war,” he explained.
The restrictions mostly ended after the war and fishermen can now go fishing in the deep sea, he noted. “Now we are regularly sending fish stocks to the Jaffna mainland and to the south.”
On Monday (October 28), SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressed a rally in Jaffna town under high security. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Eelam Peoples’ Democratic Party (EPDP) are two of the main parties backing Mr Rajapaksa. Former Chief Minister Vartharaja Perumal, too, was on stage to address the rally.
Addressing the rally, Mr Rajapaksa appealed to voters to look to the future and place their trust in him. “My election manifesto clearly details how I intend to resolve the issues faced by you. I can assure you that a Government under me will resolve them,” he told the crowd.
He noted that much of the development undertaken in the North was done during the previous Government. He promised to restore development work in the north, rehabilitate and release Tamil prisoners held in custody and to ensure security.
“All the promises I have given are practically possible. I appeal to you to trust in me so that we can build a prosperous country where we can all live together as Sri Lankans,” he stressed.
NDF candidate Premadasa is due to address a rally in Jaffna on November 8, while Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is in the North over the weekend to campaign on behalf of Mr. Premadasa.
The UNP is targeting a significant increase in voter turnout in the North. “Our aim is to have a 90 percent voter turnout, though there may not be enough time to achieve that target. Nevertheless, we are trying to get a large number of voters to cast their ballots,” said State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran who is leading the campaign for the NDF candidate in the North.
“One main challenge the party is facing is to educate voters to vote for the ‘Swan’ symbol as many associate a UNP candidate with the ‘Elephant’ symbol,” she explained.
The focus was also on the decision of the Tamil parties, including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
Five main Tamil parties deliberated twice this week in Jaffna as to whom they should support, but were unable to reach a decision.
“If we are unable to take a stand we will allow the voters to vote on their own will,” C.V. Wigneswaran, the Northern Province’s former Chief Minister, who took part in the discussions told the Sunday Times.
A cross section of the people, who spoke to the Sunday Times, said that, irrespective of the decision made by the Tamil parties, they were keen on voting at the election.
Unemployment and reduced economic growth remain concerns of the voters, but issues of security is also set to be one of the key factors on which the voters will decide.
Sivasubramanium Dushanthan (48), a jewellery shop owner, said that residents in the north enjoy the freedom they have had during the recent years and this in turn could be one of the main factors in deciding on their candidate.
“The environment here is much freer than it was five years ago. Back then, when the media came to interview us, we would either run away or refuse to speak. We are no longer afraid to express our views now.
“As for current issues, there are not enough good schools to send our children to. There are armed groups (AWA groups) operating here and the police don’t seem to have any control over them. The police themselves are part of the problem. Recently, the Navy arrested two people transporting Kerala Ganja, one of whom was a policeman. So, the law and order situation is bad,” he said.
Unemployment was another concern, he added. “Graduates are also finding it hard to obtain jobs. There are graduates with two or even three degrees working as sales representatives and even labourers. I know of someone who has three degrees who is working as a cleaner.”
Jaffna’s District Secretary N. Vethanayahan, who is overseeing arrangements for the election, said the run-up to the poll is one of the most peaceful periods with no major external political activities, but expects that there will be high turnout at the poll.
He said that there were no incidents of violence, but complaints of election laws violations such as granting appointments or conducting interviews without approval during the election period. (see below).