The Socialist Alliance, consisting of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Communist Party of Sri Lanka,Democratic Left Front and Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, fully supports President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election.

Leaders of Socialist Alliance speaking at a seminar held in Colombo stated the need for re-electing President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the second term. Science and Technology Minister and LSSP Leader Professor Tissa Vitarana said that the Government is committed to a political solution to the ethnic problem.

He said that the All Party Representatives Committee had 126 meetings with the participation of 13 parties, including nine representing Tamils and Muslims, in the initial stages. (Read More)

General Fonseka paid homage to the Sacred Tooth relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa and called on the most Venerable Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte.

Subsequently he called on the Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Mahanayake Thero of the Asgiriya chapter.

General Fonseka told the prelates that he would be supported by a number of political parties and that there were several others from the government willing to support him at the Presidential Election.

He said that he was able to successfully defeat the LTTE terrorism and what was required now was development of the country.

"The barrier to the country’s development was the prevalence of bribery, corruption and vice. My ambition is to establish a clean administration free of bribery, corruption and all types of vice," he told the prelates and requested their blessings to achieve success at the election.

Most Venerable Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte told General Fonseka that he (prelate) appreciated the performance of General Fonseka in defeating terrorism.

"You did your duty well and President Mahinda Rajapaksa too was pleased with your performance and appointed you to a high position," he said.

"We are aware that you could have retired even earlier, at least one and a half years ago. We wish you success in your endeavour," the prelate added.

The Mahanayake of Asgiriya, Sri Buddharakkitha Thero said, "Your service in defeating LTTE terrorism was remarkably excellent. We were of the opinion that you would live a retired life after retirement from service."

Sarath Fonseka later told the media at Asgiriya Vihare that amity among the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities was of paramount importance, for the development of the country.

The second phase of victory is economic development, he said.

Fonseka said that same mouths that praised him over the success against terrorism were now slinging mud on him but that mud would return to them forthwith.

With General Fonseka were UNP, Secretary General Tissa Attananayake, MPS Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana, Lakshman Kiriella, Renuka Herath and Provincial Council Members L. Jayawardana, Chitra Manthilaka, Shanthini Kongahage, Chanaka Ilapperuma, former Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyaratne, Kandy Municipal Councillors Kesara Senanayake and Raja Pushpakumara.

Weerawansa speaking to the media, at the party’s Battaramulla office yesterday, disputed General Fonseka’s claim that he was the common candidate and said he is a candidate of the United National Front(UNF). "He first said that he would abolish the executive Presidency and thereafter his statements were contradictory to his claim of abolishing the executive presidency", Weerawansa said. (Read More)

The JVP yesterday alleged that government-sponsored thugs were attacking its party offices, supporters and defacing posters and cut outs of the common presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka, in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Welimada and Kaduwela

“We are unable to put up posters or cut-outs of the common candidate because the government is sending thugs to remove them,” JVP general secretary Tilvin Silva said.

He said five JVP activists who were engaged in propaganda activities were also attacked.

Mr. Silva said the JVP rally in Nugegoda was stopped by the police and the venue had to be shifted to Hyde Park and another date fixed for the public rally.

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The JVP which kicked off its campaign for General Sarath Fonseka yesterday, came out with details as to what would happen if he emerges victorious at the coming presidential election stating that the Parliament would be dissolved on January 28 if the General is elected while he would be sworn in on January 27.

Leaders of the party told a packed rally at Hyde Park last evening that a caretaker cabinet without a Prime Minister would be appointed as soon as General Fonseka comes to power. The party said the caretaker cabinet will comprise members of all political parties including the genuine SLFPers.

JVP General Secretary Tilwin Silva said the party would go it alone at the general election and contest under its usual bell symbol. (Read More)

National Defence Front leader Ashoka Suraweera who was placed fourth at the last Presidential Election told the Daily News yesterday that his political party aligned with the UNP-led National Freedom Front would withdraw from it and that he would be contesting the election as a candidate without affiliation to any other party.

He said he had a voter base and was therefore contesting the Presidential poll.

The UNF at present had 14 constituent political parties but the NDF was a party to that coalition but the Central Committee of the party would make the decision about the Presidential poll next week, he noted.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake last week in Kandy said the UNF that was backing Sarath Fonseka comprised 14 political parties but with the pull out announced by NDF leader, it would now be a coalition of 13 political parties.

Two JVP supporters who were pasting up this poster in Monaragala were taken into custody.  CaFFE learn that this is a poster related to the election campaign of Mr. Sarath Fonseka.