• by IPS Correspondents (colombo)
• Wednesday, November 09, 1994
• Inter Press Service

COLOMBO, Nov 09 (IPS) - CASTING OF BALLOTS FOR SRI LANKA'S FOURTH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CONCLUDED HERE WEDNESDAY WITH SPORADIC INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE REPORTED FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

ELECTION OFFICIALS REPORTED A HIGH VOTER TURN-OUT OF BETWEEN 65 AND 70 PERCENT IN THE POLL THAT IS EXPECTED TO GIVE SRI LANKA ITS FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT.

IN WHAT IS BEING BILLED AS "THE BATTLE OF THE WIDOWS", PRIME MINISTER CHANDRIKA KUMARATUNGA TAKES ON SRIMA DISSANAYAKE, WIDOW OF THE MAIN OPPOSITION UNITED NATIONAL PARTY (UNP) LEADER, GAMINI DISSANAYAKE, WHO WAS ASSASSINATED AT AN ELECTION RALLY ON OCT 24.

THERE ARE FOUR OTHER MINOR CANDIDATES IN THE FRAY, ALL OF WHOM TOGETHER WITH THE CHIEF CONTESTANTS, ISSUED AN APPEAL TO VOTERS TO REMAIN PEACEFUL.

"THE SUCCESS OF AN ELECTION DEPENDS ON THE FACILITIES PROVIDED TO THE ELECTORS TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF SUCH FACILITIES IS THE LIBERTY OF THE ELECTOR TO VOTE FREELY WITHOUT SUSPICION," THE STATEMENT SAID.

BUT REBEL TAMIL TIGERS, WAGING AN 11-YEAR-OLD WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE IN THE COUNTRY'S NORTH AND EAST, KILLED FOUR SRI LANKAN SOLDIERS IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCE JUST BEFORE POLLING BEGAN.

THOUGH EVERYONE IN THE TIGER-CONTROLLED TERRITORY OF THE NORTH IS BOYCOTTING THE POLL, THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT HAS CLUSTERED POLLING BOOTHS IN AREAS OFF THE REBEL STRONGHOLD OF JAFFNA CONTROLLED BY THE MILITARY.

IN THE SOUTH, ONE UNP POLLING AGENT WAS STABBED TO DEATH OUTSIDE A POLLING BOOTH IN MATARA DISTRICT WHILE ANOTHER UNP SUPPORTER WAS CRITICALLY INJURED IN ELECTION-RELATED VIOLENCE.

A CONFIDENT KUMARATUNGA DRESSED IN BRIGHT BLUE TOLD REPORTERS AT THE ATTANAGALLE CONSTITUENCY WHERE SHE ARRIVED EARLY TO VOTE WITH HER MOTHER, FORMER PREMIER SRIMA BANDARANAIKE, THAT SHE HAD ALREADY WON "BY A MILLION VOTES".

KUMARATUNGA'S PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE (PA) COALITION IS BANKING ON MINORITY TAMILS AND MUSLIMS AND PLANTATION WORKERS TO SEE THE PREMIER THROUGH THE HUSTINGS. CONFIDENT OF VICTORY, THE PA HAS ALREADY APPEALED TO SUPPORTERS TO CELEBRATE IN A PEACEFUL MANNER.

IT CALLED ON THE PEOPLE "NOT TO PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF THE OPPORTUNISTS WHO MAY TRY TO TARNISH THE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE VICTORY BY CREATING TROUBLE."

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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