Posted on March 1, 2010 by admin

THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WAS COMPELLED TO HURRIEDLY GAZETTE 20 NEW SYMBOLS LAST THURSDAY BEFORE NOMINATIONS CLOSED ON SATURDAY TO ACCOMMODATE A MAMMOTH NUMBER OF PARTIES AND INDEPENDENT GROUPS ENTERING THE FRAY FOR REPRESENTATION IN SRI LANKA’S 7^TH.PARLIAMENT THROUGH THE APRIL 8^TH GENERAL ELECTION

One unconfirmed report said 17 parties and 49 independent groups had filed nominations for the Digamadulla electorate alone.

The United Peoples Freedom Alliance, the United National Front and the Democratic National Front are contesting all 22 districts fielding an aggregate 264 candidates.

Deputy Commissioner of elections Mahinda Deshapriya said only 40 symbols were on record at the Elections Secretariat and were insufficient to meet the unprecedented demand for symbols. The highest number of Independent groups ,20, are contesting in the  Digamadulla District .The nominations of the Janawimukthi Sayogitha Peramuna and three Independent groups were rejected.

Forty eight political parties and independent groups submitted nominations for the Batticaloa district. The nominations of the Sri LankaWorkers Party and three Independent Groups were rejected.

Forty two nomination lists had been received from 22 from political parties and 20 from independent Groups in the Trincomalee district where the nomination lists of the Ape Jathika Peramuna,Eelavar Prajhathanthri Pakshaya,Eksath Lanka Maha Sabhawa,Ruhunu Janatha Pakshaya and Sri Lanka Kamkaru Pakshaya and six independent Groups were rejected.

In Colombo, the Colombo District Tamil Organization (CDTO) President A.S. Poobalasingham said the CDTO would be backing President Mahinda Rajapaksa because he had given it an assurance to solve the problems faced by the Colombo district Tamils.