CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA 
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No ‘Computer Gilmart’: Maitripala
Common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena said the President’s reference to a ‘computer gilmart’ at a recent meeting with the electoral organisers of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLPF) was inappropriate as the head of the state.
He told the heads of media organisations yesterday that there were no ‘computer gilmarts’ in the past election campaigns and there was no possibility these happening in future as well.
“There was no special unit under Basil Rajapaksa to run election work and this is not true,” Mr. Sirisena during the meeting held at a hotel in Pitakotte.
“Anyway as President it was not a proper statement that should have been made by Mr. Rajapaksa before the organisers of the party,” he said. Mr. Sirisena said three weeks before he left the government the President had a meeting with the electoral organisers of the SLFP at the Temple Trees and there President said, “Ithin computer gilmart walin wath beriya” which refers to interfering with the election using computers. Mr. Sirisena denied any possibility of using computers to change election results and said “I am telling this with my long years of experience with electioneering,”.
He also said he has complete trust and confidence in the Elections Commissioner to hold a free and fair election.
Mr. Sirisena said there was no possibility of military intervention if he wins the election as Sri Lanka is not a country of that nature. “I know that this kind of news is coming from Government quarters itself and this is indirectly admitting that they will be defeated in a legitimate election.” “In our country there are no way for military coup and attempts by military to take over legitimate governments. These are made up stories to frighten the voters of this country,” he added.
He further said he had no plan to sign any agreements with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) but he would campaign for the Tamil votes and would even hold several meetings in the Northern Province.
Mr. Sisiresa said after winning the presidential election, he would form the real Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) as its General Secretary and maintain and uphold the policies of SLFP founder S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.
“What we find in the SLFP now is a ‘Chinthanaya’ but not policies introduced by Mr. Bandaranaike,” he said adding that Chandrika Bandaranaike is still the patron of the party even though her advice was ignored by the so-called leaders of the SLFP.
Giving details of his election campaign in the run-up to the election, Mr. Sirisena said he hoped to hold 140 meetings around the country. (Susitha R. Fernando)
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