In the SLFP there is a veritable tug-of- war between former chief minister, Athula Wijesinghe and the more popular Asoka Wadigamangawa for the chief ministerial post. The president, according to reliable information, has said that the candidate who polls the most number of preferences will be appointed chief minister. This is the reason for the heated campaign that is evident in the North Western Province.

The UNP in the meantime is faced with a huge problem due to their strong man, Wadigamangawa crossing over to the government. It looks as if the UNP is struggling to find an acceptable person to lead the campaign in the province. But at the same time, the UNP is confident of victory.

The JVP too has its share of problems in contesting this poll. This time, they will have to fight their battle alone without the support of the SLFP. When they had the support of the SLFP, they were able to secure a good number of seats. It is not so any longer.

In 2004 the PA had a clear majority in the North Western Provincial Council. It won 20 seats from Kurunegala and 9 from Puttalam and with the bonus seats had a total of 31 seats. The UNP on the other hand, won 12 seats from Kurunegala and 7 from the Puttalam district. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress won only 2 seats from Kurunegala.

In the Central Province the situation is somewhat different. The UNP has a strong candidate in S.B Dissanayake. He is confident of victory and went to the extent of boasting and saying “I am winning, even with Mahinda’s Kilinochchi”. With his coming into the campaign, there is a lot of political activity not only in the UNP camp but even in the government group. SB undoubtedly is a strong challenge and poses a threat to former chief minister Sarath Ekanayake.

S.B comes with his political slogan ‘beginning of a turn’ ‘HARAUMAKA ARABUMA’.

He boasts that this election will be the turning point for the UNP. However, the former chief minister says there is no contest -- so sure is he of victory, or so he says. Ironically SB’s three brothers have thrown in their lot with the government and promised to support the government campaign. Saliya Dissanayake, former Health Minister in the Central Province is contesting from the SLFP while the famous Neranjan Wijeratna is contesting from the UNP.

Lohan Ratwatte, son of former SLFP strong man Anuruddha Ratwatte is coming forward as an SLFP candidate.

The government campaign has the support of both the Ceylon Workers Congress of Arumugam Thondaman and Upcountry Peoples Front. But the differences between the CWC and the UPF have caused some concern in the government party. The UPF has already threatened to withdraw its support. A clash which occurred recently between the factions has aggravated the situation. Wimal Weerawansa’s JHU is also contesting the election in coalition with the government group - and according to political analysts it stands a fair chance of securing some seats.

Previously in 2004, the PA managed to win 16 seats from Kandy, 6 seats from Matale and only lost in Nuwara Eliya to the UNP. Finally the PA dominated the election and managed to win 30 seats including 2 bonus seats in the Central Provincial Council poll. Meanwhile, the UNP managed to win the Nuwara Eliya District and won 8 seats from there and only won 14 seats from Kandy and 4 from Matale districts. UNP won a total of 26 seats. The UPF managed to win 2 seats from Nuwara Eliya.

2247 candidates contesting from registered political parties have filed nomination papers for both provincial council elections. The elections for the two Provincial Councils are to be held on February 14.

Ten political parties and two independent groups will contest for the Kandy district. Nominations filed by two more political parties and independent groups were rejected.

Twelve political parties and eight independent groups are contesting from the Matale district.

Fourteen political parties and ten independent groups will contest from the Nuwara Eliya district. Nominations of two independent groups were rejected.

Eight registered political parties and five independent groups will contest for the Kurunegala district of the North Western Province. Nominations of two political parties and two independent groups were rejected.

In the Puttalam district, twelve political parties and 12 independent groups have filed nominations, while two more nominations, one of a political party and another of an independent group have been rejected