Voters were choosing between Prime Minister Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Srima Dissanayake of the United National Party. Both candidates are widows who lost their husbands to political assassins, Dissanayake on Oct. 24 when Gamini Dissanayake, the original opposition candidate, was killed along with 53 others by a suspected Tamil suicide bomber.
Both women have promised to end the bloody campaign for an independent homeland being waged by the minority Tamil community, but Kumaratunga is widely expected to win the poll.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
