The Nawa Sihala Urumaya has decided to withdraw from the polls

The Nawa Sihala Urumaya has decided to withdraw from the polls for the Eastern Provincial Council in support of the government, sources said.

The NSU previously had 12 candidates – all of whom are members of the security forces - in the fray for the May 10th election.

Its leader Sarath Manamendra told 'Lanka Dissent' yesterday (Apr. 29th) that they were facing threats from the Pillayan Group, and that the details would be issued to the media in due course.

Mr. Manamendra, who was the Senior Coordinator of slain Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, had reached a political agreement with a top government politician this afternoon, the sources said.

Both the NSU and the Pillayan Group's TMVP were among the five political parties that were recognized by the Elections Commissioner prior to the local government polls in Batticaloa