PRESS COMMUNIQUE – MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY & COMMERCE, SRI LANKA

• Colombo District voters launch ACMC to WPC!
• “Jackpot in our first time outside N & E!”-Rishad
• Majority votes from Colombo North Polling Div

 Political newcomer All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) radiated with sudden joy on 30 March as it bagged an immediate election victory in its first ever election tussle outside North and East. “I and my party thank the people of Colombo District for placing their confidence on us. This victory tells us that there is a need for change. I and ACMC stress that we will do our best to fulfil this mandate given to us” said a beaming Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka and Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress) on 30 March.

 Minister Bathiudeen, also the ACMC leader, was addressing members of ACMC high command and working committee on 30 March in Colombo in the aftermath of ACMC’s sudden victory in Western PC elections of 29 March. ACMC grabbed a seat from the forty seats in WPC in this highly competitive tussle.

 “In the Western Provincial elections, we, the ACMC, contested alone. We never had an ACMC party membership base in Colombo. This is the first time that we contested outside North and East Provinces. This is also the first time that we are contesting under our own symbol Peacock” said Minister Bathiudeen, and added: “Despite not having a membership base, we decided to enter Colombo’s race for the betterment of people in Colombo District. Realizing ACMC’s sincerity of purpose, on the day of elections, the people of Colombo bestowed their confidence on us.  I and my party thank the committed voters of Colombo District for placing their confidence on us. This victory tells us that there is a need for change. I and ACMC stress that we will do our best to fulfil this valuable mandate given to us. Our ACMC’s current national standing is three Parliamentarians, three Provincial Council members in the Northern Province, three Provincial Council members in Eastern Province, two Urban Councils (Kinniya UC and Kattankudy UC), two Pradeshiya Sabhas (Oddamavady and Museli), a Municipal Council member (Kalmunai), etc, making a total ACMC representation in the country at 61 reps!”  

 ACMC fielded 24 Muslim, 11 Tamil and five Sinhalese candidates to Colombo District in the 29 March Western PC election. Of ACMC’s Colombo District total votes, 39% came from Colombo North Polling Division while 29% came from Colombo Central. Voters in all the 15 Polling Divisions in Colombo District voted for ACMC- in that, in addition to Colombo North and  Colombo Central, voters in Kolonnawa, Borella, Dehiwala, Colombo West, Ratmalana, Colombo East, Awissawella, Kotte, Moratuwa, Kaduwela, Kesbewa, Maharagama, and Homagama polling divisions backed.