The Hindu : Three killed in Sri Lanka

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 21, 2002

International

International

Three killed in Sri Lanka

By Nirupama Subramanian

Colombo March 20. Three persons were killed in stray incidents of violence as Sri Lankans today voted to elect local government representatives to over 200 councils in the first electoral exercise since the parliamentary polls last December. The three were members of Sri Lanka's ruling United National Front, and were reported to be victims of intra-party rivalries. The Foreign Minister, Tyronne Fernando, has said the election, widely expected to be won by the UNF, should be seen as a referendum on the peace initiative of the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government. But Mr. Wickremesinghe himself kept out of the campaign, giving the impression that he did not want the ongoing peace process to become a major issue in the election.

The President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, who leads the main Opposition, People's Alliance, also did not campaign. Only the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna used the opportunity to campaign against the Government-LTTE ceasefire agreement.

Alleging intimidation of and violence against PA workers, Ms. Kumaratunga had asked for deployment of the Army to ensure free and fair elections, a demand turned down by the Government.

The President indicated earlier this week that she was empowered to take unilateral action in the matter but backed off a showdown.

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