DATE=11/16/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS L-O
NUMBER=2-256208
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A record number of candidates have registered
to run for president in December's elections in Sri
Lanka. But as Vandana Chopra reports from Colombo the
real contest is expected to be between the incumbent,
Chandrika Kumaratunga, and opposition leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe.
TEXT: Registration for the December 21st poll closed
Tuesday amid tight security in Sri Lanka's capital.
Roads leading to the Election Commission office were
closed as candidates - 13 in all - filed papers.
But unidentified gunmen attacked opposition political
offices (United National Party) in Colombo. Several
people were injured.
Last month, President Kumaratunga called elections
nearly a year early. She says she needs the voters to
give her a renewed mandate to end the country's 16
year civil war. Parliament has been blocking her plan
to change the constitution to give Sri Lanka's
minority Tamils autonomy. This, as Tamil Tiger rebels
scored some recent battle victories, capturing key
areas from government forces in the North.
President Kumaratunga was voted to power in November
1994 with 62 percent of the vote, pledging to bring
peace. She has been under pressure from political
rivals for failing to do so.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her main
opposition challenger, Ranil Wickremesinghe, are
considered frontrunners. (signed)
NEB/VC/JO
16-Nov-1999 04:12 AM EDT (16-Nov-1999 0912 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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