24 August, 2008 - Published 14:14 GMT

PC polls: voters the 'losers'

Saturday’s provincial council (PC) elections were neither free nor fair, says President Rajapaksa’s former political ally.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said the elections were marred with widespread violence, intimidation and misuse of public property.

JVP Chief Ministerial candidate for Sabaragamuwa province, Chameera Koswatta, told BBC Sandeshaya that the result did not reflect the genuine choice of the voters.

While the JVP secured two seats in Sabaragamuwa, in North Central province, the party only managed to win a single seat.

In 2004, the JVP that contested the polls together with the ruling UPFA won 10 seats and 05 seats in the two provinces respectively.

“The police, elections commissioner, and all monitors have admitted the pre-poll violence was unprecedented,” he told BBCSinhala.com.

The result will be used by the government as an excuse for continuing corruption and to increase the prices of essential goods, he added.

JVP 'supporting LTTE'

The breakaway group of the JVP, Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JFF), meanwhile accused the JVP leadership of creating conditions for party’s loss at the polls.

JFF General Secretary, Nandana Gunathilake, told BBC Sandeshaya that the loss of the JVP was ‘a tragedy’.

“This result was a deliberate loss for the current JVP leadership,” he said.

He accused the JVP of indirectly supporting the Tamil Tigers by protesting against rising cost of living (CoL), threats against media and human rights violations.

The JVP, however, votes with the government to extend emergency regulations while sitting in the opposition.

Mr .Gunathilake admitted that the split in the party might have a factor for the elections result.

“We had no other option but to leave as we were the minority in the Working Committee,” he said.