S.Lankan president calls for free, fair parliamentary election

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 02, 2004

S.Lankan president calls for free, fair parliamentary election

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has appealed to all citizens in the country to extend their fullest cooperation to hold a free and fair parliamentary election on Friday.

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Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has appealed to all citizens in the country to extend their fullest cooperation to hold a free and fair parliamentary election on Friday.

"I appeal to all Sri Lankan citizens to extend their fullest cooperation to make the General Election on Friday April 2, 2004 afree and fair one," Kumaratunga said in a message carried by localmedia on Friday.

"The right to vote is a sacred democratic privilege we Sri Lankans have experienced for over 70 years. I am confident that our people would once more demonstrate their commitment to freedom,democracy and human rights through this election," she said.

She called on the people to vote freely and not indulge in any provocative acts or undue influence during the election day.

She also urged the voters to go to polls without fear as the police and the armed forces have taken all measures to ensure a free and fair election and to maintain law and order.

Polling stations islandwide opened at 7:00 a.m. local time and will be closed at 4:00 p.m. with over 12 million registered voterseligible to vote in the election to appoint a new 225-member assembly.

The snap parliamentary election, the third since October 2000 and four years ahead of schedule, was called by the president on Feb. 7 when she dissolved the parliament.

The main contenders in the election are two political forces led by President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who are from different parties.

The election is widely believed to result in a hung parliament without sweeping majority for either of the two main political forces.

Source:Xinhua

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