by Our Political Correspondent
“However, with three more weeks to go before the election both candidates seem to be neck and neck in most parts of the country. The outcome of the election would depend on how well the two campaigns peak on the eve of the election.”
Daily Mirror, Opinion, Unsigned article, Saturday, October 22, 2005
Here is another election result in the Presidential race!
By our political correspondent
Who is getting lucky this time? A Brand New Minister of Sports, for the UNP?
ColomboPage, on 20.10.2005, reported that the “Opposition Leader and UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickramasinghe will address the maiden rally of newly appointed Anuradhapura organizer Thilanga Sumathipala tomorrow. Mr. Sumathipala has organized a public meeting tomorrow to mark his political life.
Earlier, the UNP leadership had refused to accommodate business tycoon Sumathipala in the UNP and criticized his political activities.
However, former Minister Ravi Karunanayake has blasted the UNP leadership for giving an organizer post to Sumathipala.
“He was the same person who sponsored Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dinner meeting with political activists at ‘Temple Trees’,” the UNP Kotte organizer said.
…. And Lasantha has no obejction
In the meantime, according to a Lanka Page nes report, Giving evidence at the Immigration and Emigration case against former Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Thilanga Sumathipala, Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickramatunge said he had no objection to Mr. Sumathipala being appointed as Anuradhapura UNP organizer.
Before Mr. Sumathipala was appointed Anuradhapura organiser, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Chairman Malik Samarawickrema and Milinda Moragoda had asked Mr. Wickrematunga for his views on that matter and he said he had no objection.
In this case former Sri Lanka Cricket and Sri Lanka Telecom Chief Thilanga Sumathipala is charged with aiding and abetting underworld figure Dhammika Amarasinghe to travel abroad on a forged passport for the 1999 cricket World Cup.
Cross examined by Defence Counsel Gamini Marapana Mr. Wickramatunage denied he demanded Rs. 10 million from Thilanga to stop writing against him. The witness said the first article critical of Thilanga was published some time in 1996 and the next was in 2003. But these were published in the public interest.
He said it was the duty of a journalist to inform the public of what he thinks is true.
