112 candidates from Ten political parties contest Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 February 2004, 15:47 GMT]
Trincomalee electoral district Returning Officer Mr. Gamini Rodrigo Tuesday accepted nomination lists from ten political parties and six independent groups that are presenting candidates to contest the forthcoming general election for four Trincomalee seats, political sources said.

(L-R) Mr.Sampanthan arrives at Trincomalee district secretariat Tuesday with TNA Muslim candidate Mr.Sahul Hameed (Middle) and former parliamentarian and candidate Mr.Thurairetnasingham

The Returning Officer rejected nominations lists of two independent groups and the National Development Front, as they did not conform to the regulations of the Elections Ordinance, election department sources said.

One hundred and twelve candidates are contesting the Trincomalee district for four parliamentary seats.

The ten political parties are: Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, United People Front Alliance, United National Party, Eelam Peoples Democratic Party, New Left Front, United Muslim Peoples Front, Ruhuna Peoples Party, Jathika Hela Urumaya and Sinhala Bhumiputra Party.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the United National Party submitted their nomination lists on the final day of accepting nominations. Former parliamentarians Mr.M.A.M.Maharoof, Mr.K.M.Thowfeek, Mr.M.S.Thowfeek and Mr.M.N.Abdul Majeed have been included in the SLMC list. The SLMC’s lead candidate is Mr.Maharoof who was the lead candidate of the UNP at the last general election, sources said.



TNA candidates led by Mr.Sampanthan Tuesday afternoon were received by their supporters when they visited Pathirakaliamman temple in Trincomalee



No Muslim candidates were included in the UNP list under an electoral agreement reached by the UNP and the SLMC. According to the agreement, UNP should not nominate any Muslim candidate in its lists in the northeast electoral districts and SLMC should contest the election in the other parts of the country in the UNP list, sources said.

Mr.M.N.Abdul Majeed who was a long standing member of the Peoples Alliance joined the SLMC and contesting as Muslim theologians of the district wanted a united Muslim group under the SLMC banner to contest in order to ensure Muslim parliamentary representation in the district, political sources said.



SLMC candidates Messrs M.A.M.Maharoof, K.M.Thoufeek, M.N.Abdul majeed, M.S.Thoufeek and other candidates are seen at the Trincomalee district secretariat premises