Ruling coalition seeks candidates for northern Lanka poll

The ruling coalition in Sri Lanka put out advertisements in Tamil newspapers today inviting nominations from those interested to contest the first-ever elections to the northern provincial council in the Tamil-dominated region.
The ruling coalition United People's Freedom Alliance's (UPFA) national organiser and senior minister Basil Rajapaksa was quoted as saying by the weekend press here that Tamil newspapers are carrying the advertisements.
Rajapaksa added that the UPFA was looking for academics, professionals and civil society representatives as candidates.
The advertisements in Tamil papers 'Virakesari', 'Thinakaran' and 'Thinakkural' are calling for people who are for development and reconciliation while wanting to enter politics.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared that he would hold the NPC election in September.
It is being seen as a key step towards achieving national reconciliation with the Tamil minority.
This despite the nationalist JHU and NFF warning against holding the election in the Tamil-dominated northern province, saying polls without corrective action will legalise the distorted demography in the region.