General Sarath Fonseka said that although he had registered himself in the 2008 voter registration General Sarath Fonseka said that although he had registered himself in the 2008 voter registration list he had not been granted a vote. “I want the people to know that I am fully qualified; under article 13 of the constitution, to contest for the Presidential Election,” the candidate said.

He requested voters to not be misled in any way by the false information propagated by the government. “I am a citizen of this country which is why I was the Chief of Defence Staff and the Army Commander. I want the people to not be misled by the mudslinging campaign of the government but to cast their vote with confidence,” he told Daily Mirror Online a short while ago.

Polls Chief says Fonseka eligible, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 16:10

Elections Commissioner Dayananada Dissanayaka released a statement a short while ago stating that a candidate need not be a registered voter nor cast his vote in order to be eligible to run for office and thereby Sarath Fonseka is eligible to run for the post.

State media had earlier reported that Fonseka was not eligible to vote as he was a US citizen and was also not qualified to run for Presidency. General Fonseka however said the claims were baseless.

President leaves to India, Monday, 25 January 2010 Lankatruth

President Mahinda Rajapakse suddenly left to India today (25th) evening say sources at ‘Temple trees.’ During his visit Mr. Rajapakse has met several government leaders and he has asked Indian leaders to give him and members of his family protection if an emergency situation emerges in Sri Lanka add these sources.

The President has left to India after religious ceremonies at Bellanwila Temple this evening. President Rajapakse is expected back in the island tomorrow at 9.00 a.m. He would take a special Air Force chopper to Beliatta where he would cast his vote.

Polling opens amdist sporadic incidents 2010-01-26

Polling in the Presidential elections opened amidst overnight sporadic incidents including sounds of explosion in the Jaffna district. Voting started at 7.00 am. In Jaffna at least five explosions were heard around 3.30 am, but no damage has been reported. In Anmaduwa unidentified persons removed the weapon of a police officer on duty while in the Gampaha district the board of JVP Mp Viitha Herath's office was attacked.

Terror situation in Jaffna Tuesday, 26 January 2010

A terror situation is being created in several areas in Jaffna by goons of the government say reports. A bomb has exploded in Pallaly but the damage from the explosion is not known yet. Tyres have been burnt on roads near Pallaly obstructing Tamil and Muslim voters from going to polling booths say these reports.

The army had initially been deployed to bring the situation under control but due to orders from above they had been withdrawn. As such, goons of the government carry on threatening voters while the police and security forces are looking on say reports. Due to this situation voting in several areas in Jaffna has been thwarted.

Meanwhile, the buses plying from Colombo to Jaffna used by those who have their votes in Jaffna but residing in Colombo have been suddenly terminated their journeys at Anuradhapura Depot. About 15 such buses have been parked at Anuradhapura CTB depot at the moment denying those voters the right to cast their votes.

Military Police hide buses deployed by EC for the displaced voters, Tuesday, 26 January 2010

As more than 25,000 people living in IDP camps have to cast their votes at centers in areas such as Manik farm and Killinochchithe Commissioner of elections had directed the CTB to provide them with transport facilities by deploying several buses. As such, three buses left the camp for the displaced at Vavuniya today morning but the three buses and all other buses deployed to bring in voters from camps have been detained by Military Police says our reporter at Vavuniya.

Several buses under ‘Special election duty’ were deployed for the use of the displaced voters. When senior officers came to know that most of these voters support apolitical Common Candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka, orders have been sent to Military Police to hide the buses.

Our reporter states voters living in camps for the displaced are at the moment walking a distance of 5 km to the polling centers at Manik Farm and voters in camps at Killinochchi are waiting without any means of going to polling booths. The Commissioner of Elections has been informed of this situation but so far nothing has been done says our reporter.

Govt. deploys police to deny opposition to monitor polling in North 26/01/2010

JVP Parliamentarian Vijithe Herath, presidential candidate Chanda Sugathasiri, officials of NEM HIR and a group of election monitors going for election monitoring in the North are being forcefully detained by Vavuniya Police says our reporter.

The bus travelled by the group was stopped by Vavuniya Police and they were refused to proceed further. An election monitor speaking to ‘Lankatruth’ said when it has been already announced that A-9 road was opened to anyone, refusing to allow a group going for election monitoring is suspicious.

Meanwhile, SMS service of ‘Lanka Puwath’ and ITN say the group was apprehended by Vavuniya Police while they were going to create election violence in the North.

We have, on several occasions, revealed with proof that the government was planning to carry out a mass scale rigging in the North. This has been proved by not allowing any group of election monitors to go to the North while an environment of terror has been created to terrorize voters from going to polling booths. The election monitor speaking to ‘Lankatruth’ said deploying personnel of security services to carry out the plunder of votes by the government is deplorable.

Bus taken to Temple Trees to humiliate Gen. Fonseka Monday, 25 January 2010

The OB bus that belongs to Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation used for outdoor video production and telecasting has been suddenly taken to ‘Temple Trees’ with other equipments for broadcasting. The reason for this is to carry out a degrading campaign against apolitical Common Candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka by telecasting programmes and video films using various individuals say sources at Presidential Secretariat.

Steps have been taken to telecast a video film using several prostitutes and two other video films from this bus. Several prostitutes appear in a video film discrediting Gen. Fonseka. In another video film a person introduced as a LTTE member and several others appear to allege that Gen. Fonseka had dealings with the LTTE. A video film depicting an ‘underworld thug’ stating that Gen. Fonseks had given him money and weapons to intimidate supporters of the UPFA has already been produced and would be telecast.

A radio exercise from Mahinda on 26th

Monday, 25 January 2010

The Presidential Campaign Office of Mahinda Rajapaks has planned to carry out a project for his supporters to get residents in houses close to election centers to play their radios aloud. The campaign office has named channels that should be played.

The directive has been sent by the campaign office to leaders of political parties that support Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse, district leaders, electoral organizers, district organizers, PC members, officials specially appointed for the presidential election and organizations attached to UPFA.

They have been directed to get residents in houses near polling centers to play their radios loud on the 26th between 6.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. tuning to Hiru FM, Sath FM, Neth FM, Lak FM and Lak Handa.

The official of the Presidential Campaign Office told ‘Lankatruth’ that Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse has used his executive powers to indirectly influence voters by getting residents near polling centers to tune their radios to selected channels that would broadcast programmes that would be advantageous to him.

SB’s sibling in a devil’s act at Hamguranketha Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Several incidents of terrorizing voters and polling agents being driven away have been reported from Hanguranketha. The gangs of thugs who are involved in these violent acts are lead by Saliya Dissanayake, the brother of S.B. Dissanayake say reports. He had directed bands of armed thugs to break into polling booths and drive away polling agents.

Meanwhile, a gang of thugs lead by a minister of the government has carried out violence and had driven away polling agents from the centers and intimidating voters at Nawalapitiya. Despite complaining to relevant officials and the police, no measures have been taken to stop such atrocities.

One million poll cards not delivered 25/01/2010

Nearly one million poll cards were left undelivered in post offices over the weekend as the deadline for the delivery ended, officials said yesterday. The Northern Province had the largest number of undelivered poll cards with more than 300,000 still stacked up in post offices, they said.

Deputy Post Master General V. Kumaraguruge who is in charge of the north said yesterday that of a total of 876,633 poll cards, 566,857 had been delivered in the districts of Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya and Jaffna by Thursday.

No National Identity Cards for 1 million voters 25/01/2010

An estimated one million people do not have National Identity Cards or other forms of identity papers to vote at Tuesday’s Presidential election, officials and independent poll monitors said yesterday. Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake declared that only about 200,000 people had applied for the temporary NICs that would enable them to vote as the deadlines ended.

Fonseka's supporters prevented from voting in Nawalapitiya 2010-01-26 08:52:00

Voters believed to be voting for Gen Sarath Fonseka have been driven away by armed gangs in Nawlapitiya, election monitors said. They said police had failed to prevent the incidents.

BREAKING NEWS: from 94112512102 23/01/2010 11.28 am

Now U are a proud citizen of a Middle Income Nation. GDP per-capita rose from $1000 to $2200 during my first 4 yrs" said president. Sri Lanka-Asia's Miracle!

BREAKING NEWS: from 94112512102 22/01/2010 12.01 pm

Survey Results: President Rajapaksa 60%, Fonseka 40%, conducted by University of Kelaniya covering all districts, Urban, Suburban, Rural -news.lk

BREAKING NEWS: from 94112512102 19/01/2010 11.18

Majority of Muslims Prefers MR: 65% for MR & 35% for SF (2450 sample). 70% appreciates MR's foreign policy & 65% says MR is the best for SL-asiantribune.com