The Hindu : International : Presidential election sought in Sri Lanka

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005

International

International

Presidential election sought in Sri Lanka

V. S. Sambandan

UNP leads Opposition march into Colombo

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's main Opposition United National Party (UNP) on Tuesday led a protest march into the capital Colombo, demanding that the presidential election be held later this year.

The 10-day protest march, which started at Dondra, the southern-most point in Sri Lanka, wound its way over 162 km before reaching the outskirts of Colombo on Monday evening. Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the UNP's presidential candidate, led the protest march and addressed meetings along the route.

Addressing a public rally in Colombo at the conclusion of the march, Mr. Wickremesinghe said sovereignty rested with the people and that they wanted the presidential elections to be held later this year.

The march comes against the backdrop of a stand-off between the Government and the Opposition over when the presidential election is due. The Government maintains that the poll is not due until next year.

13 policemen injured in attack

Meanwhile, in eastern Sri Lanka, 13 policemen were injured, two of them seriously, in a grenade attack by suspected LTTE cadres, the army said. "The policemen are out of danger," the army spokesperson told The Hindu.

The attack came a day after Colombo said military escort to the LTTE for movement across Government-controlled areas was "not a right" exercised by the rebels under the ceasefire agreement.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

G-4 introduces draft resolution in U.N.

Presidential election sought in Sri Lanka

Blair warns clerics preaching hatred

Japan, U.S. for progress in nuclear talks

Ex-Premier charged with fraud

Hu praises positive role of New Party

Jurassic trees

Vatican back in the black

Dramatic rise in HIV cases

WTO: India, China oppose bid to divide developing countries