afp,  Wed Jan  6 09:07:25 EST 2010

    COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka's former army chief received a boost to his presidential ambitions Wednesday when minority Tamil parties said they would back him against incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse in polls later this month.
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- The Academic

If elections can be won by sheer propaganda then Sarath Fonseka is miles ahead. Sadly, the reality is different. Look who are going "Kade" for opposition, AFP, Reuters, BBC Sinhala service, Sri Lanka Guardian etc...all these people are depending on foreign dollars. Even Tamil separatist's propaganda mouth piece Tamilnet is washing Fonseka's dirty clothes these days!! One gigantic blunder all these pathetic propagandists making is that Sinhala votes will be divided equally so the minority votes will carry the day. However, exact opposite is true. Allegiance of minority parties are equally divided between two main contenders wheras Sinhala votes going to split around 70% to 30% in favour of President as indicated by the survey below:

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University opinion poll says clear majority for President Rajapaksa
Wed, Jan 6, 2010, 10:14 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

(By Sujith Madugalle)

Jan 06, Colombo: A scientific survey conducted by the University of Kelaniya has shown a clear majority for the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming presidential election.

This opinion poll conducted by the social scientists of the University of Kelaniya has indicated 62.53% voter turnout for President Mahinda Rajapaksa while 29.12% for the main opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka.

"According to the survey, still President Rajapaksa is the most favorite politician in the country," Dr K. Karunathilake of Social Science Department of Kelaniya University said.

“An 86% of polled are having the view that President Rajapaksa is the only trusted leader at the moment," he added.

The opinion poll has pointed out that urban areas including Colombo city-limit is very favorable for General Sarath Fonseka while rural areas are for President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"In the Western Province General Fonseka is gaining popularity but almost all the rural areas are dominated by President Rajapaksa," he added.

The Kelaniya University will continue this survey till January 26th election and plans to release the survey results regularly to the media.

If you look around Sri Lanka, there are giant projects popping up like highways, sports stadiums, airport, harbor etc.

If the next government is standard over to SF and his political masala, the direction of the country is not sure.

On the other hand direction MR admin is heading is sure, corruption, nepotism, etc..
It is despicable to see MR's face on national currency on this election year since it is an indication where we don't respect democracy.  That itself should be a violation of election rules of a democratic society.

MR's campaign seems well organized at every corner of Sri Lanka.  In some cities, it is hard to see who else is running when you look around.

If the next government consists of major voices of TNA, JVP, and Muslim parties etc, it is like de ja vu.

I think RM here said the best, "let's give MR a chance".
After the LTTE war victory, changing the commander in chief is not a good business decision.


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"What is left when honor is lost?"

Even though Mahinda's victory seems better alternative for country. I love to see the victory of Sarath Fonseka just to watch the post  election drama between Sarath Fonseka, Ranil Wickramasinghe, Mangala-Chandrika faction, JVP and TNA. I don't think we will ever get to see anything as exciting as that again in our life time.

perl wrote:

If you look around Sri Lanka, there are giant projects popping up like highways, sports stadiums, airport, harbor etc.

i think you are talking about the projects financed by the Chinese, Built by the Chinese Labour and Material and to be repaid by our future generations? zthe fact remains that we cannot even produce the rice we need for our consumption inspite of giving RS.350 fertilizer. where are our national priorities?

perl wrote:

If the next government is standard over to SF and his political masala, the direction of the country is not sure.

If parties supporting SF is a masala then not sure what you call SLFP, Pilleyen, Karuna, JHU, Wimal, CP, LSSP, EPDP, NUA, PLOTE and Mervin. They also pretty much covers all the political extremes.

perl wrote:

On the other hand direction MR admin is heading is sure, corruption, nepotism, etc..
It is despicable to see MR's face on national currency on this election year since it is an indication where we don't respect democracy.  That itself should be a violation of election rules of a democratic society..

I am least concered with having MR's face on the currency compared to violation of the constitution by not implementing the 17th amendment which has the potential for ending this wild political culture practiced by all parties in politics. MR should be reminded that he himself voted for it.

perl wrote:

MR's campaign seems well organized at every corner of Sri Lanka.  In some cities, it is hard to see who else is running when you look around.

Yes i agree. But the credit for that goes to taxpayers of this country who continue to finance MR's campaign. Just ask SLPA, RDA. Police and Temple Trees Chef.

perl wrote:

If the next government consists of major voices of TNA, JVP, and Muslim parties etc, it is like de ja vu.

But they are also sri Lankan citizens having the same right. Having TNA in any govt whether MR or SF is a victory for the country because that will show the tamil people have reintergrated with mainstream governance aways from seeking refuge in a terrorist. If we can forgive Karuna why not TNA?

perl wrote:

I think RM here said the best, "let's give MR a chance".
After the LTTE war victory, changing the commander in chief is not a good business decision.

  He had a golden opportunity after the war victory to heal this nation, get rid of corruption and rule this country for another 2 years when the next election is due. He was badly misled by the thieves around him.


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VOTER COORAY
"A nation is a collective enterprise - outside of that it is a gambling hall for the opportunism and adventurism of power."-Wole Soyinka

Chandana says:

Quote:

Even though Mahinda's victory seems better alternative for country. I love to see the victory of Sarath Fonseka just to watch the post  election drama between Sarath Fonseka, Ranil Wickramasinghe, Mangala-Chandrika faction, JVP and TNA. I don't think we will ever get to see anything as exciting as that again in our life time.

Hi Chandana, even though you have joined the forum about the same time I did, we haven't been fortunate enough to see many posts from you. The last one we saw from you (17 Nov 2005) was a gem about Somawanse Amarasinghe celebrating victory with MR. Well, what a celebration it turned out to be!

I am surprised that you assume that SF will need the support of Ranil-Chandrika-Mangala-JVP-TNA to govern if he becomes President. Going by recent history, he is more likely to govern with the support of GL-Milinda-SB-Rajitha etc. etc, because those serial turn-coats will flock to whoever is occupying the position of President. That is the pathetic record of SL politicians.

And, in another of your rare but invaluable posts (9 Oct 2005) you have described our politicians quite appropriately:

Quote:

But my dear friend, today we can openly tell you that elections in Sri Lanka are about changing one set of crooks and cronies with another set of crooks and cronies, and in that contest I have very little doubt that your dream leader would have done any better with your 8 points.

Wake up Stephen… these politicians are not going to make Sri Lanka another “Singapore” but what is more like to happen is that these politician will go to “Singapore” every month to buy their household needs, their wives needs, and their dogs needs. Especially spa treatments for dogs as it is not available in Sri Lanka and they need to keep their dogs fresh and clean to chase away those peasants who come asking for “SINGAPORE GOODIES”

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"I do not suffer from Autism, but I do suffer from the way you treat me." -Tyler Durdin

[quote="This opinion poll conducted by the social scientists of the University of Kelaniya has indicated 62.53% voter turnout for President Mahinda Rajapaksa while 29.12% for the main opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka.

"According to the survey, still President Rajapaksa is the most favorite politician in the country," Dr K. Karunathilake of Social Science Department of Kelaniya University said.

“An 86% of polled are having the view that President Rajapaksa is the only trusted leader at the moment," he added.

The opinion poll has pointed out that urban areas including Colombo city-limit is very favorable for General Sarath Fonseka while rural areas are for President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"In the Western Province General Fonseka is gaining popularity but almost all the rural areas are dominated by President Rajapaksa," he added. [/quote]









Now I expect this is not yet another ploy by a group of Professors to mislead the Public. In these Election times there are all sorts of people who goes "Kade" for one party or the other. However, a group of Professors from a reputed University has much more credibility than what is normally being dished out by pathetic propagandists of State Media and UNP-JVP Gobbels Media unit. If this opinion survey is genuine it just confirms current political trends in the country. How can a govt which got around 60% from all Provincial Council Elections not very long ago suddenly nose-dive below 50% and more interstingly how can a combine Opposition which got around 35% from Provincial Council Elections suddenly make a gigantic climb above 50%? This is impossible since absolutely nothing significant has happened in the country since the end of war. The so-called Fonseka effect the Opposition has been expecting has boomeranged. A person who do not know ABCD of politics has shown it in Public. Best propaganda for Govt State Media is provided by none other than Fonseka himself. His most treacherous statement implicating Gotabaya and Shavendra Silva for war crimes buried him for good.  And his promises to all and sundry, like salary increases for both State and Private sector by Rs 10000, bailing out Golden Key depositors from State funds, increasing Samurdhi benefits by Rs 2000, increasing pensions etc. take him nowhere because people know these things are impossible to do. Another thing is his use of language......apart from all these baseless allegations on Rajapakses without a single proof.....the other day he threatened Wimal Weerwansa saying that when he asked for a debate with main challanger those who lick bones come forward and that he will give these bone lickers plenty of bones and garbage after 27th January. Is this a language worthy of Muncipal Councilor leave alone Head of State!!!! State Media keep repeating his own statements to sling mud at him. Do we see similar propaganda in Sirasa, MTV or TNL? No, because a person with 40 years political experience (as opposed to 40 days) knows what to say and how to say without commiting political suicide.

perl wrote:

MR's campaign seems well organized at every corner of Sri Lanka.  In some cities, it is hard to see who else is running when you look around.

Mahinda is taking the campaign every corner of the world on internet.

http://www.groundviews.org/2010/01/05/paying-global-media-for-local-elections/

And who is paying for all these extravagant costs?

Negombo wrote:

perl wrote:

MR's campaign seems well organized at every corner of Sri Lanka.  In some cities, it is hard to see who else is running when you look around.

Mahinda is taking the campaign every corner of the world on internet.

http://www.groundviews.org/2010/01/05/paying-global-media-for-local-elections/

And who is paying for all these extravagant costs?

The comments are most interesting  


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MAC1

Negombo wrote:

perl wrote:

MR's campaign seems well organized at every corner of Sri Lanka.  In some cities, it is hard to see who else is running when you look around.

Mahinda is taking the campaign every corner of the world on internet.

http://www.groundviews.org/2010/01/05/paying-global-media-for-local-elections/

And who is paying for all these extravagant costs?

I think some people have already answered (see below) that these are adds originated from Google and is only visible for ip-addresses originated from Sri Lanka. So, this is yet again another cheap mud slinging slogan from Mangala Samaraweera's Gobbels Media Unit.

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I have seen these adds on NY times etc and have accessed through a proxy and VPN outside SL. Then they don’t show up. So yes it’s only for Sri Lankan IPs. Again less cost there!

If you don’t believe they’re Google adds click on it and pay attention to the intermediate proxy domain which the request goes through.

googleadds.g.doubleclick.net


For Google rates go here:

http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=7687

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I was in SL during 2004 General Election and 70% of adds on newspapers and TV then were from the UNP. The big question is why the UNP which gets plenty of billions from the West is not making a genuine campaign effort with these foregin dollars this time. I think the answer is obvious, they don't want to invest money for a losing cause. I am sure they conduct their own opinion surveys and knows the inevitable. The Sunday Times newspaper which normally washes UNP's dirty clothes are not coming with any surveys these days. When there was a sign that the Govt change was on the card in 2001, The Sunday Times came with opinion surveys every week until the election date.

Anyone joined MR's facebook ?
I wonder if SF has one also ....

Quote:

Chandana says, Even though Mahinda's victory seems better alternative for country.

In that 'better alternative' do you like the country to be run in the same way?

Quote:

I love to see the victory of Sarath Fonseka just to watch the post  election drama between Sarath Fonseka, Ranil Wickramasinghe, Mangala-Chandrika faction, JVP and TNA.

  This is like an marriage between ugly individuals.  All got together to defeat MR.  Is SF going to dance for all the rhythms of these different ideologies? Can SF live up to his reputation and lead the country?  This is yet to be seen.  

Quote:

I don't think we will ever get to see anything as exciting as that again in our life time

After the last Presidential elections we saw the downfall of UNP.  Like manner can we expect MR to go through the drain?

For me also it is a foregone conclusion that Mahinda will win, and i am surprised at his sudden panic.. thinking about it i realized that this was just a ruse maybe to get over two thirds in the parliamentary election... the opposition move could have been predicted

having said that, i too would love to see sf win, but if that happens, i will eat oysters for dinner for one day at the induruwa beach hotel... anyone care to join?

Quote:

Romeo saying, having said that, i too would love to see sf win, but if that happens, i will eat oysters for dinner for one day at the induruwa beach hotel... anyone care to join?

I will join you Romeo.  It reminds me in Zimbabwe Buffalo testicles are a delicacy.  They call them 'mountain Oysters!'  By the way,  the real danger:  In the event MR wining, the joint opposition can accuse MR of vote rigging and there can be wide spread protests & destruction.  Are we heading for an Iran style anarchy?  That is my fear

SL Gunasekara has a booklet coming out on Jan 12th, reviewed in The Nation (link below)

http://www.nation.lk/2010/01/10/newsfe6.htm

Got a chance to read it in advance. Lucid analysis with some possible scenarios (none of them palatable) that can happen if SF wins.