Sri Lanka Elections: News Brief

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 February 2004, 11:51 GMT]
Key members of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) are likely to join the United National Front, Sri Lanka's Police force's leaves have been suspended, Thamilchelvan returns to Vanni from European trip and Anandasangaree continues to scuttle Tamil National Alliance efforts to formulate a coherent election strategy, according to local media reports.

Key SLFPers expected to join UNF

Political sources from Colombo said key leaders from the SLFP are expected to join United National Front of Ranil Wickremesinghe in the next few days.

Mr.Ronnie de Mel, Mr.Jeyraj Fernandopulle and A.H.M.Fowzie who held ministerial posts in the earlier Peoples' Alliance Government have been conducting talks with Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, according to reports.

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Leave suspended for Sri Lanka Police officers

Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Indra de Silva, has issued a memorandum cancelling all leaves for Sri Lanka Police officers from 17 February to 15 April, media reports said.

The gazette notification dissolving Sri Lanka's Parliament stated that nominations for the elections would be accepted from 17 february to 24 February. Elections to Parliament would be held on 2 April, 2004.

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Thamilchelvan returns from European Trip

Thamilchelvan and his political team which has been touring European countries are returning to Vanni Sunday, according to reports.

Reports also said that Thamilchelvan had consultations with Mr.Anton Balasingham, the LTTE’s political advisor and theoretician, in Switzerland before leaving to Vanni.

Thamilchelvan is expected to meet with LTTE leader Pirapaharan before discussing the central issues governing the elections with the members of the Tamil National Alliance either Monday or Tuesday, reports added.

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Anandasangaree's tussle with TNA continues

President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), Mr.V.Anandasangaree has written to the Secretary General of TULF, Mr.R.Sampanthan that he (President) should be consulted before the TULF engages in any discussions related to forming alliance with other parties, Tamil political sources said.