Independent election monitors have said that there has been an unprecedented increase in election related violence in the run up to Sri Lanka’s local authority polls on March 30.
The People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has said that there has been an increase in election related violence compared to the November 17 presidential election.
PAFFREL Chief Kingsley Rodrigo said that the number of reported incidents have increased immensely when compared with the presidential election.
“This is disastrous. The respective political parties and the government should take immediate action to curb the violence,” added Rodrigo.
Sri Lanka’s Elections Commission (EC) is reported to have again warned all political parties to adhere to the election law they seem to be ignoring the orders.
“Cut outs, banners, posters and bill boards are still coming up despite the Elections Commissioner’s appeal. The police should take immediate action to remove these and legal action should be taken against those who violate the election laws,” said Rodrigo.
Rodrigo meanwhile said that he intends to bring these to the notice of the EC and the Sri Lanka’s Police Chief when he meets them during this week.
Both PAFFREL and the Commissioner of Elections, Dayananda Dissanayake, are backing affidavits on the need to present some sort of identification at the polls.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) said violence committed against its candidates and supporters have increased ahead of the local council polls.
“Attacks on UNPers and their property are continuing. The house of the Negombo’s Deputy Mayor was attacked and a number of vehicles and household effects smashed. A UNP member of the Akuressa Pradheshiya Sabha was attacked and admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital with both his arms broken,” UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya told a news conference.
He said the UNPers were also being politically victimized and the government still continued to cut the Samurdhi benefits of grassroots level party supporters.The Deputy Leader said police personnel were being transferred due to political pressure in the absence of the Independent Police Commission.
The People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has said that there has been an increase in election related violence compared to the November 17 presidential election.
PAFFREL Chief Kingsley Rodrigo said that the number of reported incidents have increased immensely when compared with the presidential election.
“This is disastrous. The respective political parties and the government should take immediate action to curb the violence,” added Rodrigo.
Sri Lanka’s Elections Commission (EC) is reported to have again warned all political parties to adhere to the election law they seem to be ignoring the orders.
“Cut outs, banners, posters and bill boards are still coming up despite the Elections Commissioner’s appeal. The police should take immediate action to remove these and legal action should be taken against those who violate the election laws,” said Rodrigo.
Rodrigo meanwhile said that he intends to bring these to the notice of the EC and the Sri Lanka’s Police Chief when he meets them during this week.
Both PAFFREL and the Commissioner of Elections, Dayananda Dissanayake, are backing affidavits on the need to present some sort of identification at the polls.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) said violence committed against its candidates and supporters have increased ahead of the local council polls.
“Attacks on UNPers and their property are continuing. The house of the Negombo’s Deputy Mayor was attacked and a number of vehicles and household effects smashed. A UNP member of the Akuressa Pradheshiya Sabha was attacked and admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital with both his arms broken,” UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya told a news conference.
He said the UNPers were also being politically victimized and the government still continued to cut the Samurdhi benefits of grassroots level party supporters.The Deputy Leader said police personnel were being transferred due to political pressure in the absence of the Independent Police Commission.
