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Democracy won - govt, improve democracy - TNA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
While the government portrays the results of the Saturday's local elections in the north as a victory for democracy after the end of the conflict, the victorious party in the north has urged the government to work on improving democracy. Susil Premjayanth, the secretary general of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Party (UPFA) told BBC Sandeshaya that the voters in Sri Lanka has delivered a message to the international community. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), he said, worked on an agenda against Sri Lanka together with the Tamil diaspora to 'tarnish the image of the country'. The TNA has secured 13 out of 16 local bodies in Jaffna. In Kilinochchi, while the UPFA holds the control of one body, the TNA has secured two councils.
"The voters have delivered a message to the world that they now have the right to elect whoever they like through democratic elections after the north was liberated," said Minister Premjayanth. Minister Douglas Devananda, the leader of the EPDP, meanwhile accused the TNA of carrying out a "false" election and media campaign against the government. 'Brainwashed' That was the main reason for the government to lose elections in Jaffna, despite the ministers and the president personally campaigning for days in the north, said Minister Devananda. The TNA, however, stressed that it would have won more councils and members if not for threats, intimidation and other malprictises by the government.
Jaffna district MP Mavai Senadhiraja told journalists in Jaffna that the TNA expects the government would understand the message delivered by the voters at least now. He expressed hope that the government would work to improve democracy in the north and ultimately find a political solution for the Tamils' longstanding issues. The main opposition Uniterd National Party (UNP) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have failed to secure any of the contested local bodies in the north and the south. "The people in Sri Lanka are currently under an illusion," said Somawansa Amerasinghe, the leader of the JVP. "That is what we are now trying to explain to the people," he added. | LOCAL LINKS  TNA sweeps north, UPFA wins south24 July, 2011 | Sandeshaya Jaffna peaceful, Kilinochchi marred by violence23 July, 2011 | Sandeshaya Voting closed in local polls23 July, 2011 | Sandeshaya Building a new life after the war Sandeshaya Struggle of IDPs in Kilinochchi20 July, 2011 | Sandeshaya SL risks renewed conflict - ICG19 July, 2011 | Sandeshaya | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The voters have delivered a message to the world that they now have the right to elect whoever they like through democratic elections after the north was liberated
