"Local polls not free and fair", says opposition

“ I have been closely working with MP Basil Rajapaksha in the 'Nagenahira Navodaya’ programme and we have submitted several develoment proposals programmes for our area.” said Sivageetha Prabhakaran, alias Padmini, the new Mayor.

Allegations baseless

When asked about the allegations made by the opposition that the local government elections were not free and fair, Sivageetha Prabhakaran dispelled these allegations as baseless.

“We never threatened any one and this is the people’s verdict “said Mayor Prabhakaran who contested elections under United Peoples Front Allaince (UPFA)

Commenting on disappearances the new mayor said that her party will be co-operating with the security authorities to improve security in the area.

“We have to identify the culprits and at the moment the security forces are in a dialogue with the people on how to make things better “says the new Mayor.

IDPs

Responding to a question on internally displaced people in the area Sivageetha Prabhakaran said that there will be no forced resettlements.

Sivageetha Prabhakaran polled the highest number of preferential votes (4722 votes) and is the fist woman to become Mayor in the Battcaloa

Her father Rajan Sathyamurthi, a TNA candidate in the General Elections of 2004 was gunned down in the run-up to the polls. The killing was blamed on the LTTE.