HEAR OUT THESE FIRST-TIME VOTERS ...

By Jayashika Padmasiri

Ever since the presidential election was announced we have seen plenty of television and newspaper advertisements asking the youth to use their votes wisely. Through these advertisements leaders contesting the upcoming Presidential Polls have portrayed themselves as the saviours and the ultimate hope of the new generation. These advertisements vary in the tagline according to the different political parties and candidates. However, reports claim that more than one million voters registered in the voters list for the forthcoming election are first-time voters. LAKBIMAnEWS spoke to a few of these voters and found out about their sentiments.

Family influence

A Colombo resident, Adheeq Maharoof working in the financial sector is voting for the first time. Speaking to LAKBIMAnEWS he said, “I am still confused about who I am going to vote for. But I think it will most probably be the Common Opposition Candidate Sarath Fonseka.”
When asked for reasons, Maharoof answered saying that he respects President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s policy in ending the war, but that he personally believes that President Rajapaksa’s family is influencing him to take some very bad decisions regarding the country. Speaking about his hopes for a brighter future Maharoof added, “I wish if there was a good education system in Sri Lanka, where every child is given an opportunity to follow his or her dreams and find employment in a stream they are talented in. To have an education system where the teachers will identify the talents of the child at a young age, and a system, that will make the child travel forward in that stream. For example, I’m a very a good photographer, but I did marketing and today I am working in the financial sector.”
There are supporters of President Rajapaksa too. Nuwan Udugama is a university student who was of the view that President Rajapaksa should win this election because he succeeded in eradicating terrorism from the country to put an end to the war which lasted for more than 30 years.
“It is a huge thing to end the war. And for such a leader who succeeded in that, it is not a massive thing to solve the economic problems of our country. And I also believe that if the Common Presidential Candidate Sarath Fonseka comes to power, then a lot of problems would arise.
He is not a member of either the United National Party (UNP) or the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). So in that case, if he does something wrong after he comes to power, then no party can punish him as he does not belong to either of those parties.’’
Speaking further Udugama added, “Most countries during a war situation are poverty stricken, and citizens have to go hungry. Regardless of the hardships our country faced during that time -- our citizens had food to eat. So I believe that people should put the country first, and think of what is best for the nation without thinking about their stomachs.”

Just and fair

Another group that belongs to the first time voters’ category are youth who sat for the Advanced Level (A/L) examination last year and are now looking for jobs. Miyuru Suneth is one such youth. Speaking to LAKBIMAnEWS he said that he plans to vote for Sarath Fonseka.
“Since General Sarath Fonseka succeeded in ending the war and bringing peace to this nation, I do believe that he is a just and fair man. So based on that reasoning I will vote for him. I strongly believe that he will not deceive his people,” he said.
When questioned whether he does not believe that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had a role to play in bringing an end to the war, Suneth answered that he believes that what President Rajapaksa did was to create the background the General needed, to finish the war. Speaking about his hopes for the future Suneth added that he wishes that General Sarath Fonseka would address the issue of unemployment, which the present President Rajapaksa had failed to do during the last four years. “Sarath Fonseka succeeded in finishing the war, so just like that we hope that he would address the issue of unemployment as well,” Suneth concluded.

FOR BAHU TOO

Meanwhile, there are other reactions too regarding the Presidential Election. Though most voters are divided between the two leading candidates, some youth support other candidates as well. Dilrukshi Karunatilaka, a resident from Colombo said that she plans to vote for the leader of the Left Front Vikramabahu Karunaratne. Expressing her views to LAKBIMAnEWS she said, “I do not believe that either of the main candidates will rule in a democratic manner when they will come to power. So because of that reason alone I have chosen Karunaratne, who I believe has the capacity and the ability to carry out presidential duties and functions.”
Also speaking further about her hopes for a brighter future she added, “In a post war situation such as the present, measures should be taken by the ruling party to gain peace that would last, which will take quite some time. So I believe that whoever becomes the next president should address this issue first. And I think that the ideal candidate among the 21 contestants to carry out such tasks is Vikramabahu Karunaratne.’’