A systematic campaign is underway to sabotage the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna election campaign, the JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath alleged today.

Speaking at a press conference at the party headquarters, Herath said that false rumors have been spread about the party.

Furthermore, falsified documents are also being circulated, he said. These documents include false versions of the JVP election manifesto, Herath pointed out.

The JVP recently filed a complaint on a Facebook page spreading false information while pretending to be an official page of the party.

UNP Kurunegala candidate Nalin Bandara said that the people of Kurunegala did not ask for the return of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to politics from their district.

Bandara stated this when asked about Rajapaksa's claim that he returned to politics due to overwhelming requests made by the people.

Speaking to Asian Mirror yesterday, Bandara said that Rajapaksa's candidacy was a blessing in disguise for the UNP. He claimed that even the moderate SLFP supporters are questioning the return of Rajapaksa, who is a defeated candidate. Only those who blindly follow him support Rajapaksa, Bandara insisted.

He further said that he was certain of UNP victory in the Bingiriya Electorate and the Kurunegala District.

Nalin Bandara is the UNP Chief Organizer in Bingiriya.

Although the UPFA campaign slogan speaks about starting afresh, there are no fresh faces among the main candidates of the UPFA, Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

Speaking at an election rally last evening at Maharagama, Ranawaka said that the United National Front for Good Governance has put forward some fresh faces to the election campaign.

Furthermore, those who support good governance principles have gathered around the UNFGG, he added. Ranawaka insisted that the UPFA will be soundly defeated in the August 17 election.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress-All Ceylon Makkal Congress rivalry flared up yesterday at a press conference in Colombo called by a group including North Western Provincial Council Member Rizvi Jawaharsha.

Jawaharsha, a member of the SLMC, claimed that ACMC leader Rishad Bathiudeen was responsible for erasing his name from the nominations list to contest the forthcoming general election under the UNP ticket.

He also claimed to have information regarding fraudulent land deals of Bathiudeen.

While the press conference was underway, a group led by Western Provincial Council Member A.J.M. Faiz started arguing with Jawaharsha and his group. Faiz is a member of the ACMC.

The press conference got underway after Faiz and his group left.