Members of the People’s Alliance last week were made to read out aloud a pledge of allegiance to the party which also had them promising not to bicker and spill blood over preferential votes.

It also said that members would "refrain from facilitating divisions along lines of caste, ethnicity, religion and so on, and to treat those who are defeated with respect and not to sacrifice the mandate given by the people in order to obtain money or other benefits."

"Read it out loud," President Chandrika Kumaratunga instructed PA members who congregated at the President’s Lodge at Anuradhapura where the party held its inaugural campaign rally on Friday. The sharp order came when it was found that many of their voices could not be heard.

The pledge, though apparently well-meaning, is not backed by sanctions for non-observation. "It’s not such a big thing," said a deputy minister who did not wish to be named. "It’s just a pledge, don’t you know. There was no punishment specified."

Kumaratunga, however, said that those who take the "vow" should go before the people and apologise if they violate it.

The document says that the members will work with determination to ensure the victory of the PA, "ably led by Her Excellency the President Chandrika Kumaratunga, along with all progressive people in this country who rallied around the PA on August 16, 1994, and during all subsequent elections in order to defeat corrupt and anti-people forces in the country.

Disruptive forces have been working in a country which is home to those nourished by Buddhism for over 2,500 years, those who adhered to Christian values built over several centuries, Hinduism and Islamic tenets and those who together have coexisted on this land as righteous and respectful peoples.

"I pledge to work fairly and within the law without resorting to any acts of violence during this campaign and to uphold and foster democratic values without criticising fellow candidates in order to obtain preferential votes," it read.(FRS)