The Province plays a unique role in the Sri Lankan map as it houses all three major communities the Sinhala (22.7%), Tamil (48%) and Muslims (28.2%) in substantial proportions. ________________________________
by Rasika Somarathna
(May 09, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) On May 10 all eyes would be on the crucial Provincial Council Election in the East, which is of both political and historical importance to Sri Lanka due to a variety of reasons.
The election in itself is a unique one as it is the first occasion that such a poll is being held for the de-merged East with the first and final PC poll taking place way back in 1988 for the merged North east Province.
Since that election in 1988 where Vardharaja Perumal became the Chief Minister and its subsequent dissolution in 1990, significant changes have taken place in the Eastern theatre.
Since then under the present Government the Eastern province has been brought under one flag as parts of the Province under unofficial control of the LTTE were liberated.
As a result of the successful plea brought before the Supreme Court in 2006, the North and East which was merged being subjected to a referendum within one year (which did not take place), was once again separated into two provinces.
Following this and the subsequent liberation of the entire Province from Tiger clutches, the need for holding an election for the Eastern Provincial Council emerged.
Following local elections the Government wheels moved swiftly to hold PC polls with the intention of strengthening the democratic process and empowering the Eastern polity, by giving an opportunity for them to elect their own representatives to Govern the Province.
The liberation of the Eastern Province which culminated with the fall of the final LTTE frontier - The Barons Cap (Thoppigala) was not a mere battlefield success to gain control over terrain.
It was in fact a humanitarian mission to liberate a population from the clutches of terror and tyranny by preventing a group of extremist terrorists from abusing a vital region of the country which had been the homeland for generations of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims since ancient times.
The Province plays a unique role in the Sri Lankan map as it houses all three major communities the Sinhala (22.7%), Tamil (48%) and Muslims (28.2%) in substantial proportions.
It is made up of 9,965 square kilometres covering around 16 per cent of the total land mass of Sri Lanka, with a maximum length of 286 kilometres from Kumana in the South to Pulmoddai in the North-East.
The maximum breadth is 89 kilometres from Ulhitiya in the West to Kirankulam in the East.
Also it houses a multi-faceted environmentally rich 420 kilometre coastline (Ampara 110 kms, Batticaloa 100 kms and Trincomalee 210 kms) and is the only province with three airports at Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara.
Thus the East which is being considered as the richest province in Sri Lanka because of the enormous resources it possesses would face this crucial election on May 10 after two decades.
It also comes in the backdrop of a development revolution by the Government in an area where development was a word forgotten under Tiger clutches.
The East which consists of three districts namely Trincomalee Ampara and Batticaloa is set to elect 37 members to the Council - 35 elected members from the districts in addition to two bonus seats.
A record number of 18 political parties and 73 independent groups are in the fray including the UNP and the JVP which did not contest the recently concluded local polls in the Batticaloa district.
According to analysts unlike the concluded Batticaloa local polls which was won by the TMVP, the PC elections for the East is considered as a two horse race with the UNP, SLMC combination posing a challenge to the UPFA which is backed by the TMVP, in addition to a number of its constituent parties.
However, in the backdrop of Government's effort to liberate the province and its subsequent development drive in the East analysts predict a UPFA victory which would ensure the momentum being carried forward.
Also a successful election in the East is seen by the Eastern polity as a defeat to the LTTE and the separatist lobby, because first and foremost this would usher in a democratically elected administrative structure consisting of representative of the East.
In addition it would also shatter the Eelamist dream with the East having a separate identity from the North and would limit the boundaries of the imaginary state of Eelam. This also is expected to act as a catalyst for liberation of the North subsequent to the establishment of a viable civil administrative structure in the province.
In this backdrop the forthcoming election is viewed by most as one of the most crucial in the annals of Sri Lankan polls, one which could change the cause of history in this country.
This fact no doubt could be gauged by the enthusiasm shown by Political parties in the fray with both main contenders the UNP and UPFA putting their full might behind the campaign in order to become the victor.
The UNP's decision not to contest the local polls in Batticaloa was roundly criticised even among its own rank and file, thus its entry along with SLMC was a foregone conclusion.
Development projects in East
However this has contributed to heightened competition which has resulted in the number of election related incidents going up in comparison to the recently concluded Batticaloa local polls.
However one has to consider that the Batticaloa poll took place only in a single district opposed to the PC election which is being held in three districts.
But according to authorities most of these complaints have been trivial in nature. However they have taken all steps necessary for the conduct of a peaceful election by deploying a 20,000 strong security contingent with strict orders to uphold law and order.
Election Authorities too have taken steps to deploy more than 15,000 personnel on election day, making this the biggest manpower deployment ever for a single province in the annals of our elections.
Also there are a number of groups in the election monitoring process with the main polls watchdog in the country PAFFREL deploying more than 2,500 observers including foreigners in their ranks.
A total of 982,721 registered voters would be eligible to exercise their franchise to elect 37 members out of a total of 1342 in the fray.
Most analysts predict a record turnout at the election based on the enthusiasm shown by both political parties and the public in the area.
Also they predict that the forthcoming poll would be a litmus test for the Government in the backdrop of its efforts to liberate the area and its subsequent development drive. The election is also considered as one which could unite all three communities in the province which is of paramount importance to Eastern resurgence.
However the expectations of the public remain high since being liberated from Tiger clutches the focus is clearly on development with more livelihood projects, infrastructure development, education, health etc. to lead them on the path of recovery.
When you travel the length and breadth of the area it is apparent that the general polity wants the momentum to continue without going back to the former dark era. who ever becomes the victor in the May 10 poll it is apparent that a free and fair election in the East would be a victory for the country, specially a victory for the Eastern masses.
Thus the May 10 poll would be a red letter day for the East. It is one which could change the history of the East and the country in general.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
The election in itself is a unique one as it is the first occasion that such a poll is being held for the de-merged East with the first and final PC poll taking place way back in 1988 for the merged North east Province.
Since that election in 1988 where Vardharaja Perumal became the Chief Minister and its subsequent dissolution in 1990, significant changes have taken place in the Eastern theatre.
Since then under the present Government the Eastern province has been brought under one flag as parts of the Province under unofficial control of the LTTE were liberated.
As a result of the successful plea brought before the Supreme Court in 2006, the North and East which was merged being subjected to a referendum within one year (which did not take place), was once again separated into two provinces.
Following this and the subsequent liberation of the entire Province from Tiger clutches, the need for holding an election for the Eastern Provincial Council emerged.
Following local elections the Government wheels moved swiftly to hold PC polls with the intention of strengthening the democratic process and empowering the Eastern polity, by giving an opportunity for them to elect their own representatives to Govern the Province.
The liberation of the Eastern Province which culminated with the fall of the final LTTE frontier - The Barons Cap (Thoppigala) was not a mere battlefield success to gain control over terrain.
It was in fact a humanitarian mission to liberate a population from the clutches of terror and tyranny by preventing a group of extremist terrorists from abusing a vital region of the country which had been the homeland for generations of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims since ancient times.
The Province plays a unique role in the Sri Lankan map as it houses all three major communities the Sinhala (22.7%), Tamil (48%) and Muslims (28.2%) in substantial proportions.
It is made up of 9,965 square kilometres covering around 16 per cent of the total land mass of Sri Lanka, with a maximum length of 286 kilometres from Kumana in the South to Pulmoddai in the North-East.
The maximum breadth is 89 kilometres from Ulhitiya in the West to Kirankulam in the East.
Also it houses a multi-faceted environmentally rich 420 kilometre coastline (Ampara 110 kms, Batticaloa 100 kms and Trincomalee 210 kms) and is the only province with three airports at Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara.
Thus the East which is being considered as the richest province in Sri Lanka because of the enormous resources it possesses would face this crucial election on May 10 after two decades.
It also comes in the backdrop of a development revolution by the Government in an area where development was a word forgotten under Tiger clutches.
The East which consists of three districts namely Trincomalee Ampara and Batticaloa is set to elect 37 members to the Council - 35 elected members from the districts in addition to two bonus seats.
A record number of 18 political parties and 73 independent groups are in the fray including the UNP and the JVP which did not contest the recently concluded local polls in the Batticaloa district.
According to analysts unlike the concluded Batticaloa local polls which was won by the TMVP, the PC elections for the East is considered as a two horse race with the UNP, SLMC combination posing a challenge to the UPFA which is backed by the TMVP, in addition to a number of its constituent parties.
However, in the backdrop of Government's effort to liberate the province and its subsequent development drive in the East analysts predict a UPFA victory which would ensure the momentum being carried forward.
Also a successful election in the East is seen by the Eastern polity as a defeat to the LTTE and the separatist lobby, because first and foremost this would usher in a democratically elected administrative structure consisting of representative of the East.
In addition it would also shatter the Eelamist dream with the East having a separate identity from the North and would limit the boundaries of the imaginary state of Eelam. This also is expected to act as a catalyst for liberation of the North subsequent to the establishment of a viable civil administrative structure in the province.
In this backdrop the forthcoming election is viewed by most as one of the most crucial in the annals of Sri Lankan polls, one which could change the cause of history in this country.
This fact no doubt could be gauged by the enthusiasm shown by Political parties in the fray with both main contenders the UNP and UPFA putting their full might behind the campaign in order to become the victor.
The UNP's decision not to contest the local polls in Batticaloa was roundly criticised even among its own rank and file, thus its entry along with SLMC was a foregone conclusion.
Development projects in East
However this has contributed to heightened competition which has resulted in the number of election related incidents going up in comparison to the recently concluded Batticaloa local polls.
However one has to consider that the Batticaloa poll took place only in a single district opposed to the PC election which is being held in three districts.
But according to authorities most of these complaints have been trivial in nature. However they have taken all steps necessary for the conduct of a peaceful election by deploying a 20,000 strong security contingent with strict orders to uphold law and order.
Election Authorities too have taken steps to deploy more than 15,000 personnel on election day, making this the biggest manpower deployment ever for a single province in the annals of our elections.
Also there are a number of groups in the election monitoring process with the main polls watchdog in the country PAFFREL deploying more than 2,500 observers including foreigners in their ranks.
A total of 982,721 registered voters would be eligible to exercise their franchise to elect 37 members out of a total of 1342 in the fray.
Most analysts predict a record turnout at the election based on the enthusiasm shown by both political parties and the public in the area.
Also they predict that the forthcoming poll would be a litmus test for the Government in the backdrop of its efforts to liberate the area and its subsequent development drive. The election is also considered as one which could unite all three communities in the province which is of paramount importance to Eastern resurgence.
However the expectations of the public remain high since being liberated from Tiger clutches the focus is clearly on development with more livelihood projects, infrastructure development, education, health etc. to lead them on the path of recovery.
When you travel the length and breadth of the area it is apparent that the general polity wants the momentum to continue without going back to the former dark era. who ever becomes the victor in the May 10 poll it is apparent that a free and fair election in the East would be a victory for the country, specially a victory for the Eastern masses.
Thus the May 10 poll would be a red letter day for the East. It is one which could change the history of the East and the country in general.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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