Lankan presidential poll on Dec 21

Under Sri Lankan law, only one day is allotted for nominations, and the Elections Commissioner has fixed it for November 16. Four candidates have already thrown their hat in the ring: Kumaratunga who leads the People’s Alliance (PA) coalition, Wickremsinghe who is the leader of the United National Party (UNP), Janatha Vimukthi Perumena (JVP) candidate Nandana Gunatilleke and splinter Left candidate Vasudeva Nanayakkara.

Though there was speculation about a consensus candidate from amongst the Tamilparties, no name has yet surfaced. Kumaratunga’s announcement of early presidential elections ahead of the August 2000 parliamentary elections, is seen as a savvy political move that may ensure a second term for her government, which has been plagued by accusations of non-performance on several fronts: war despite the promise of peace, a sluggish economy in the last two years, and tensions with coalition partners.

However, as the presidential election is seen almost entirely as a personality contest, it is believed that Kumaratunga, with her personal popularity, charm and winning smile, has a clear edge in a one to one electoral battle with Wickremsinghe.

If Kumaratunga emerges victorious, it is expected that general elections will be held immediately after, with the PA coalition romping home, on its leader’s back, to a second term in government.

It is bound to be an election in which everything will be fair target for both sides in the campaign. Already, the UNP has attacked the choice of election dateas `surprising’ given Kumaratunga’s avowed sensitivity towards minorities, as it falls in the month of Ramzan.

The President launched her campaign from the Buddhist holy city of Anuradhapura last Sunday, while Wickremesinghe will start his on the coming Sunday from the Sri Lankan capital, a vital stronghold for his party.

Both leaders have promised peace and ethnic harmony in Sri Lanka if elected. On this particular issue, the choice is grim for voters: between a leader they elected in 1994 with hope that she would bring back peace, but who failed to do so, and one who belongs to party that for years, presided over the worsening of the conflict.