KULIYAPITYA: The claim of the Government that Provincial Council Elections could not be held due to the North-East war is the biggest joke of the century. We also had the same war during our period, but we held even the General Election throughout the country. The PA is afraid of elections, so they are trying to postpone the elections on the pretext of the war, the Leader of the Opposition and UNP Ranil Wickremasinghe, said. He was addressing a UNP pocket meeting at Gatulawa in Bingiriya electoral division recently.

Mr. Wickremasinghe held a series of pocket meeting at Wellarawa, Tharana, Kadigamuwa, Waduressa, Thisogama and Gatulawa in his tour in Bingiriya Electoral Division.

Kurunegala District MPs Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, Piyasoma Upali, A. H. M. Alavi and Mrs. Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake, The Chief Minister NW-PC and several PC and PS members participated in these meetings.

The Opposition Leader added that PA could come to power because the UNP government held a free and fair election in 1994. We bowed to the people's decision at the election and handed over the power to PA since we always uphold the sovereignty of the people.

He added, the PA Government could not provide the security to the temple of the sacred tooth relic. How can such a Government provide the security for the country.

The Government right throughout the last four years fixed deadlines to end the war, but the war is continuing. It appears that the war is politicalised by the government.

The Government has clung on to the war to find excuses to cover up its lapses.

The PA gave various false promises and pick pocketed the votes of the people to come to power. They have now forgotten these promises, they made.

We can't anticipate a free and fair election under this government.

We agreed to support the Government to postpone the Provincial Council Elections provided a Presidential Election is held in place of PC elections to send Chandrika home and to hold a free and fair election under us.

Now the PA is trying to hold the PC elections on a staggered basis using Government pressure. That shows the PA afraid of elections.

We have three major demands. They are an impartial Election Commission an impartial Police Commission and an impartial Public Service Commission. Until such time those demands are won we would launch our protest and agitation campaign against the Government, Mr. Wickremasinghe added.

KANDY: A tusker of the Sri Dalada Maligawa killed its mahout after attacking him violently.

The mahout A. Dingiri Mahattaya of Godakawela who was taken to the Kandy Hospital in a serious state died on admission.

The tusker was being taken to participate in the procession when it unleashed the attack seized by a violent temper.

The Maligawa authorities did allow the animal to carry the casket on Friday night.

The Department of Cultural Affairs and the Oriental Music Panel of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka have organised a "Swararanjana" Classical Music Programme series. Under this programme Professor of Music Visvabharati University (Santiniketan) Prasant Kumar Bhanja will present a classical sitar recital from 6 p.m. on August 3 at John de Silva Memorial Theatre, Colombo under the patronage of Minister of Buddhasasana and Cultural and Religious Affairs Lakshman Jayakody and the Deputy Minister Prof A. V. Suraweera. (Kandy Staff Corr.)