UPFA General Secretary Minister Susil Premjayanth yesterday expressed confidence that the ruling coalition could find a winning combination to win the forthcoming elections to the Jaffna Municipal Council and the Vavuniya Urban Council.

Premjayanth told The Island that the SLFP would discuss ways and means of reaching an agreement with its coalition partners in this regard. Responding to our queries, he said that the TMVP, the breakaway LTTE group which contested the first PC election in the East on the UPFA ticket was unlikely to join the fray.

Referring to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s recent address to the Colombo based diplomatic community, he said that the Elections Secretariat would go ahead with necessary arrangements for the northern LG polls. The President said that nominations would be called later this month,

Premjayanth said the results at the forthcoming LG polls would reflect the armed forces’ triumph over the LTTE. He asserted that the breakaway SLMC group now with the ruling coalition, too, would be with the government.

He said that Parliament, following deliberations had cleared the way for LG polls. He said that both legal and security impediments had been cleared for the polls.

EPDP leader Douglas Devananda told The Island that his party would go it alone at both councils. He said that at the moment both councils were run by Commissioners.

Responding to our queries, he said that elections could be held in late June or July.

He said that the LG polls would be of critical importance, particularly as they were the first in the country, following the total collapse of the LTTE.

Premjayanth said that Vanni District MP Minister Rishad Bathiudeen would be involved in the campaign.

Political sources said that the SLMC rebel, one of the six SLMC MPs who had switched allegiance to President Rajapaksa, could play a critical role in the propaganda campaign in Vavuniya.