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Constitutional crisis threat looms large over Lanka polls

Sri Lanka goes to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new parliament, which will decide the destiny of the war-torn island nation, amidst speculation that a row between the president and prime minister is imminent in the event of the opposition coming to power.

Various pre-poll surveys indicated a neck and night fight between the ruling People's Alliance and the United National Party. Much of the outcome of Tuesday's election depends upon the behaviour of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which President Chandrika Kumaratunga described as an 'insidious force' in northern Jaffna and eastern districts.

Campaign was marred in eastern Batticaloa and central Anuradhapura when LTTE suicide bombers struck at election rallies killing more than 40 people including candidates. In the backdrop of the LTTE threat, there is much fear among voters and candidates, particularly in the north, on the peaceful conduct of polls.

Also, with political pundits predicting a very narrow margin for the winning party, the possibility of a hung parliament cannot be ruled out. In that case, the role of the left-oriented Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, which has emerged as the third strongest party, will be crucial, political analysts said.

Chandrika Kumaratunga, who was re-elected for a second term in December last, can continue up to 2006 as the executive head of the state. In the event of the opposition UNP being able to form a government after the parliamentary elections, it could lead to a 'constitutional crisis', political analysts say, a first for the nation since independence.

In the last presidential election, Kumaratunga won with 51.7 per cent of the vote.

President Kumaratunga, whose ruling People's Alliance had a slight edge in pre-poll surveys, says the elections are the 'last chance to end the Tamil problem'.

An equally confident Wickremsinghe, claiming victory in advance, explained to reporters what the priorities of his government would be.

While addressing a press conference on Sunday, he said his party was confident of forming the government. "Chandrika can continue as nominal head of the state. However, our prime minister and cabinet will be in full command while deciding all important issues," he said.

Tight security is in place in view of several suicide bomb attacks and the killing of civilians during the past 34 days of campaigning. The LTTE could disrupt elections in the northern Jaffna peninsula, reports have said.

Fifty thousand policemen and the army have been deployed. "Anti-riot squads will also be deployed to stem rioting and LTTE attacks," acting Inspector General of Police Anandarajah said.

More than 50 foreign election observers, a large number of them from the European Union, will be closely monitoring the elections. The island nation has 12.7 million registered voters.

Officials said about 100,000 polling staff had reached 9946 booths in 22 electoral districts in the nine provinces, including embattled Jaffna, which has 600,000 voters.

A total of 5038 candidates from 32 political parties and 99 independent groups are contesting for the 196 seats in the 225-member parliament. The remaining 29 members will be elected on a proportionate system basis from the national lists of various political parties.

UNI

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