Fears of violence in Sri Lankan election

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, NOV. 12. There were renewed fears of violence in Sri Lanka's December 5 parliamentary election after an alleged incident of firing outside the house of a prominent Opposition candidate and supporters of the ruling and Opposition parties clashed in several parts of the country on Sunday.

Mr. Sajith Premadasa, a candidate of the United National Party, has alleged that gunmen in vehicles fired shots at his house in Hambantota, southern Sri Lanka.

Mr. Premadasa, the son of the late President, R. Premadasa, was not at home at the time of the incident. His wife and some party activists were reported to be standing near the gate of the house at the time of the firing. No one was hurt.

In another incident 55 kms north of the capital near Marawila, police had to fire teargas to disperse warring activists of the ruling People's Alliance (PA) and UNP.

Supporters of a Ceylon Workers Congress(CWC) leader and a dissident member of the party clashed in the central hills, leaving several people injured.

A total of 473 incidents of polls-related violence have been reported to the Election Commissioner in two weeks of electioneering. At least one person has died in the violence so far.

A minister was arrested early in the campaign for allegedly leading an assault that resulted in the death of a UNP supporter. Another minister claimed an attempt on his life after his security officials clashed with supporters of a UNP candidate in southern Sri Lanka.

Fearing attacks from political rivals, many candidates, including the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader, Mr. Rauff Hakeem, have requested police to provide extra security to them.

The daily Island today called on the police to crack down on criminals and underworld gangs and confiscate the large quantity of illegal arms that are known to be in the possession of politicians and their supporters.

The UNP-led United National Front has expressed concern to the Elections Commissioner about the possible misuse of state armouries in the coming election.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : 'No unusual communication from crew before crash'
Next     : Flight data recorder found