Sri Lanka opposition against fresh polls

The main opposition People's Alliance (PA) yesterday said it was opposed to fresh elections, but added that its alliance was prepared to face another poll if the ruling United National Front (UNF) holds one or would look out for other 'democratic' ways of gaining power.

The PA rejected fresh polls, but vowed to continue 'all democratic' methods enabling the opposition to recapture power and take control over parliament.

The PA at a news conference in Colombo denied that it was planning a 'coup' against the government and said that it had no official connection with a document which has been published in newspapers giving a detailed plan on how the PA wanted to topple the government.

"This particular document has not been discussed by the PA. But this may be a document which has been sent to the PA or may be a document which had been prepared by one of our think-tank teams," PA spokesman Dr Sarath Amunugama told journalists.

The document was supposedly found in the briefcase of former media minister Mangala Samaraweera who is now actively involved in reviving the party.

But Samaraweera, who was present at the news conference, denied having seen the document.
However, the PA did not rule out using some of the methods in the document which had been published in the newspapers.

One of the main methods mentioned in the document has been winning the support of some of the ruling party members and muster 113 members to show that they had a majority to form a government in the 225-seat legislature.

"The main ambition of the opposition should be to come to power democratically and not to wait in the opposition. We are trying that out and we will try to reach the 113 figure," Dr. Amunugama said.

"Not only us, the UNP also used the same method and bought over our members last year helping themselves to come to power," Dr Amunugama said.

"We do not want elections at this time as it will not only affect the peace process, but also the country cannot afford it. The stock market has already been affected and investors will not come to the country as soon as they hear about elections."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was yesterday given full authority by his party to hold fresh elections, if talks to put the cohabitation process back on track fails.

Wide speculation of a fresh election has had immediate reaction with the Tamil minority parties expressing fear that it could affect the ongoing peace process.

On the trade side, investors have expressed fears about facing another major election as they have faced the consequences of two parliamentary elections and one Parliamentary election in three years.

"The Tamil National Alliance is not supportive of a fresh election at this moment when full concentration is needed on the peace process," said Dr Nilliah Kumaraguruparan, General Secretary of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC).

The ACTC, one of four Tamil political parties, has accepted the LTTE as the sole representatives of the minority Tamils and works closely with them.