04-04-2004, 08:46 AM
Sri Lanka rules out poll recounts
Sunday, April 4, 2004 Posted: 0709 GMT (1509 HKT)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) -- Voting will not be held again in two areas where there were widespread reports of irregularities in Friday's parliamentary election, Sri Lanka's election commissioner has said, paving the way for the release of final results.
The announcement came after Election Commissioner Dayanada Dissanayake met Sunday with leaders of the island's major parties to discuss the report.
"We had a lengthy discussion and my decision is that there is no need for re-polling," Dissanayake told reporters.
It was not immediately clear when final results from the vote -- and the official announcement of what party will form the new government -- will be announced.
But officials said the process to make those announcements would begin immediately.
In early counting, the political alliance of President Chandrika Kumaratunga was holding a strong lead, far ahead of her longtime rival, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Kumaratunga called the election nearly four years early after disagreement between her and the prime minister over concessions granted to ethnic-Tamil rebels as part of the peace process.
But Sri Lankans say these latest elections -- the third in four years -- will not help solve the problem and they are doubtful whether it will foster much-needed stability.
The two main parties differ strongly on how to approach peace talks with the Tamil Tiger rebels, who have been fighting for more than two decades for a separate homeland in the island's north.
A fragile truce between the government and the rebels has been maintained over the past two years.
Before the ceasefire came into effect, more than 65,000 people were killed with the tropical island's economy, one of Asia's poorest, wracked by the violence.
In 2001, Wickremesinghe's opposition swept aside Kumaratunga's UPFA, forcing the long-time adversaries to work together in an uncomfortable constitutional cohabitation.
While both the president and prime minister believe that a lasting peace is the only way for Sri Lanka, they agree on little else.
In November, Kumaratanga declared a state of emergency, taking over the defense, interior and information ministries and escalating the row over the direction of the nation's peace process.
Kumaratunga says too many concessions were made to the rebels, and has promised in recent days to pursue a peace process of her own.
"We have already formulated methods, procedures, strategies and tactics to start off the peace process," Kumaratunga said.
But Wickremesinghe -- who is seen by many as the architect of the peace over the past two years -- says he is the only politician who can talk with the Tigers.
நன்றி - CNN
Sunday, April 4, 2004 Posted: 0709 GMT (1509 HKT)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) -- Voting will not be held again in two areas where there were widespread reports of irregularities in Friday's parliamentary election, Sri Lanka's election commissioner has said, paving the way for the release of final results.
The announcement came after Election Commissioner Dayanada Dissanayake met Sunday with leaders of the island's major parties to discuss the report.
"We had a lengthy discussion and my decision is that there is no need for re-polling," Dissanayake told reporters.
It was not immediately clear when final results from the vote -- and the official announcement of what party will form the new government -- will be announced.
But officials said the process to make those announcements would begin immediately.
In early counting, the political alliance of President Chandrika Kumaratunga was holding a strong lead, far ahead of her longtime rival, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Kumaratunga called the election nearly four years early after disagreement between her and the prime minister over concessions granted to ethnic-Tamil rebels as part of the peace process.
But Sri Lankans say these latest elections -- the third in four years -- will not help solve the problem and they are doubtful whether it will foster much-needed stability.
The two main parties differ strongly on how to approach peace talks with the Tamil Tiger rebels, who have been fighting for more than two decades for a separate homeland in the island's north.
A fragile truce between the government and the rebels has been maintained over the past two years.
Before the ceasefire came into effect, more than 65,000 people were killed with the tropical island's economy, one of Asia's poorest, wracked by the violence.
In 2001, Wickremesinghe's opposition swept aside Kumaratunga's UPFA, forcing the long-time adversaries to work together in an uncomfortable constitutional cohabitation.
While both the president and prime minister believe that a lasting peace is the only way for Sri Lanka, they agree on little else.
In November, Kumaratanga declared a state of emergency, taking over the defense, interior and information ministries and escalating the row over the direction of the nation's peace process.
Kumaratunga says too many concessions were made to the rebels, and has promised in recent days to pursue a peace process of her own.
"We have already formulated methods, procedures, strategies and tactics to start off the peace process," Kumaratunga said.
But Wickremesinghe -- who is seen by many as the architect of the peace over the past two years -- says he is the only politician who can talk with the Tigers.
நன்றி - CNN
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