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State media told to stick to guidelines
Gulf News,
February 24.
Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has set out guidelines to the state-run electronic media and cautioned them that he could name a competent authority to manage the broadcasts related to elections, in the event of any violation of the regulations.
The state-run media has been accused of misuse in favour of President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her newly-formed alliance with the Marxist JVP.
Kumaratunga's party has claimed that the privately-owned media was biased towards Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP), and that they were trying to balance it by making use of the state media.
"The electronic media, specially the government-owned, must be particularly scrupulous in complying with their obligation to provide accurate, balanced and impartial information in their reporting of news and current affairs," the Elections Commissioner has said.
More...
Published: Tue Feb 24 21:51:14 EST 2004
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Britain calls for fair election in Sri Lanka
dailytimes.com.pk,
February 25.
Britain on Tuesday urged Sri Lanka’s political parties to keep down their rhetoric in the run up to April elections and warned against undermining fragile peace talks with Tamil Tiger rebels.
Foreign Office Minister Mike O’Brien called for free and fair elections in the island, a former British colony, and expressed the hope that stalled talks could resume shortly after the April 2 snap poll.
A statement issued in Colombo on Tuesday after O’Brien’s talks in London with his Norwegian counterpart, Vidar Helgesen, a key figure in the Sri Lankan peace talks, said an end to the ethnic conflict was essential for stability.
More...
Published: Tue Feb 24 22:13:52 EST 2004
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Nominations for polls close today
Gulf News,
February 24.
Nominations for Sri Lanka's snap Parliamentary elections close today as the main parties prepare for a grueling five week long election campaign.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga's alliance and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) handed over nominations in some of the main districts yesterday.
Kumaratunga's alliance known as the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is setting off their campaign from the North Central Anuradhapura district on Thursday while the Prime Minister has selected the central Kandy district to launch the campaign.
Both, the UNP and UPFA were involved in last minute bargaining to attract members from the opposition sides before finalising their nomination lists. A host of politicians including an ex-minister, ex-parliamentarians, provincial council members and other local politicians have crossed sides since Parliament was dissolved on February 7.
More...
Published: Tue Feb 24 01:45:58 EST 2004
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