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Tamil parties unite to fight Sri Lankan elections
In an unprecedented move, four political parties representing the Tamil minority agreed Thursday to campaign together in the Dec. 5 general elections.
In an unprecedented move, four political parties representing the Tamil minority agreed Thursday to campaign together in the Dec. 5 general elections.
The Tamil parties can tilt the balance in a close race as they controlled 13 seats in the just dissolved 225-seat Parliament and could win more seats by sticking together.
"This is an unprecedented step," Veerasingham Anandasangaree, senior vice president of the Tamil United Liberation Front, said. "We are happy that at long last we are showing unity."
However, the main contest will be between President Chandrika Kumaratunga's Peoples' Alliance and the United National Party of former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Dec. 5 elections will be the second ballot in 14 months. Kumaratunga dissolved Parliament on Oct. 11 after nine lawmakers quit her coalition, reduced her government to a minority in Parliament.
Bureau Report
The Tamil parties can tilt the balance in a close race as they controlled 13 seats in the just dissolved 225-seat Parliament and could win more seats by sticking together.
"This is an unprecedented step," Veerasingham Anandasangaree, senior vice president of the Tamil United Liberation Front, said. "We are happy that at long last we are showing unity."
However, the main contest will be between President Chandrika Kumaratunga's Peoples' Alliance and the United National Party of former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Dec. 5 elections will be the second ballot in 14 months. Kumaratunga dissolved Parliament on Oct. 11 after nine lawmakers quit her coalition, reduced her government to a minority in Parliament.
Bureau Report