Nominations over- No major incidents

Local Political parties already submitted their nomination papers for the  North Central Provincial Council and the Sabaragamuwa Provinicial Council.

A number of Independent groups also submitted their nomination papers and there is no major incidents reported from these provinces.

A special Police teams are now roaming in these provinces but opposition claims a number of armed groups , specially crades of the Pillayan group are also roaming in some parts of the Polonnaruwa district.

At present around 15 TMVP camps  are located in the Polonnaruwa district, said  our sources.

Meanwhile the government has decided to put one of disabled solider and the only survivor of LTTE bomb that killed Lt. General Denzil Kobekaduwa and Major General Wijaya Wimalarathna in Kaits Island in 1992, Upali Wijekoon to contest the NCP election .

 Mr. Wijekoon who lost legs in the attack, met the President at Temple Trees on Wednesday  and stated that he would contest the election to give value to all those who made such sacrifices for the security of the country.

However UNPs Chief Ministerial candidate for the NCP  Major General Janaka Perera said that despite pressure being brought on him from various sectors to refrain from contesting in the NCP and to accept a high post abroad instead, he would under no circumstances change his decision.

He said an UNP victory at the NCP elections was a foregone conclusion and after that victory the word Rajarata would once again echo internationally.

"I have fought for this country and achieved several victories. We must fight this election like gentlemen, said the retired Major General at a press conference.

"When I was fighting the terrorists there were no threats to my wife or children. But now those who dislike my contesting the elections are threatening my wife and children not to allow me to contest, he said.

Meanwhile General Perera's posters are still displaying along the Colombo Roads.

The UPFA has handed over nominations for the Anuradhapura district in the north central provincial council election at the Anuradhapura district secretariat on Friday .  After handing over the nominations former chief minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake said large numbers of leading members of the UNP and  JVP in the north central province are joining the alliance. 

The handing over of nominations for the Sabaragamuwa provincial council has ended on Friday. The United People’s Freedom Alliance, the United National Party and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna contest all four districts where the elections are being held.  Returning officers said  12 recognized political parties and seven independent groups compete for the Anuradhapura district in the north central provincial councils.  Ten political parties and 8 independent groups contest the Polonanruwa district.

Nine recognized political parties and 12 independent groups compete for the Kegalle district in the Sabaragamuwa provincial councils.  The Up-country People’s Front and the Ceylon Workers Congress are among the recognized political parties.  12 political parties and 9 independent groups contest the Rathnapura district.

The elections secretariat says provincial councils elections for the north central and sabaragamuwa provinces will take place on the 23rd of next month.