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A dusk-to-dawn curfew was clamped for the fourth day yesterday as sporadic violence continued, Police said.
They said Police and the Army are continuing to maintain joint patrols to curb incidents including attacks on residences or business establishments of political opponents.
At Wattegama, groups were having demosnstrations yesterday over the killing of ten SLMC supporters by PA thugs. Some houses were stoned and attacked during the demonstration.
In another incident yesterday afternoon, more than 5000 people gathered at the mosque in Madawela and marched carrying slogans in protest against the massacre and calling for the removal of the Central Province DIG. Four PA supporters were injured in an attack in Weligama while tension reigned in Kandy as people were trying to march towards Anuruddha Ratwatte's house.
Two men were stabbed in Wennappuwa during a demonstration. In Nuwara Eliya, the PA's chief candidate C.B. Ratnayake's house came under attack.
By Chandani Kirinde
Former Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said the People's Alliance as a matter of priority would push for reforms aimed at changing the present electoral system that had failed once again to bring in political stability. Mr. Fowzie, who topped the PA's Colombo district preference vote list, said Wednesday's poll had resulted in another hung parliament and the country could not afford another early election.
"This system of elections will have to change. We must take this up as a matter of priority once Parliament convenes," he said. Mr. Fowzie said the PA bowed to the people's verdicts and they were prepared to accept defeat.
Meanwhile, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva told journalists at the Elections Department on Friday that it was too early to say how well a UNP led government would serve the country.
"We might be paving the way for Eelamists to take control of the country," he said.
Mr. Silva said his party was happy as it had recorded the biggest gains by a party in the elections amidst numerous difficulties.
The independent research group Survey Research Lanka (SRL) which conducted an opinion poll for the Sunday Times said yesterday its poll was nearest the target.
SRL predicted the UNF would get 43.5%, the PA 38.8% and the JVP 10.2%. The final election results gave the UNF 45.6%, the PA 37.2% and the JVP 09.1%.
Another independent group Org-Marg Smart in an opinion poll gave the UNF a substantial lead over the PA but said 13% of those interviewed were yet undecided and much of that apparently went to the UNF.
Both these polls were conducted in all districts except those in the north and east provinces.
By Dilrukshi Handunnetti
Prime Minister designate Ranil Wickremesinghe emerged victorious in the preference warfare at last Wednesday's polls with an impressive number of preferences totalling up to 415,686.
Anura Bandaranaike polled the second highest number of preferences by polling more than 250,000 preferences closely followed by UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya.
Another 18 also polled over 100,000 preferences. In Colombo, excepting UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who polled the highest number of preferences ever recorded, Milinda Moragoda and Ravi Karunanayake along with PA's A. H. M. Fowzie polled the highest district preferences.
In Gampaha, Anura Bandaranaike and Karu Jayasuriya polled over 200,000 preferences while UNP's Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane also polled over 100,000 preferences.
In Kalutara, UNP district leader Mahinda Samarasinghe beat outgoing Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake in the preference race though both polled over 100,000 of preferences. UNP's Dr. Rajitha Senaratne came a close third.
In Kandy, UNP district leader Keheliya Rambukwella polled the highest while three UNPers, CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman, UPF leader P. Chandrasekaran and Muttu Sivalingam also passed the impressive 100,000 mark in Nuwara Eliya.
In Matara, only former PA minister Mangala Samaraweera polled 100,000 of preferences while in Galle it was only UNP district leader Vajira Abeywardane who made the mark.
UNP district leader Gamini Jayawickrama Perera and Johnston Fernando both polled over 100,000 preferential votes in Kurunegala.
Ratnapura had its own popular candidates too, with UNP district leader Gamini Atukorale, Susantha Punchinilame and PA's Pavithra Wanniarachchi managing to sweep the polls.
A few other candidates came close to achieving the target but fell short of a lakh of preferences by a few thousands. They included UNP's Mahinda Wijesekera, Palitha Range Bandara, Sajith Premadasa and PA's Arjuna Ranatunge who marked his political debut.
The pro-UNP Jatihika Sevaka Sangamaya's strike at Lake House would have ended up in disaster but for the Navy troops moving in to provide security.
A group of 75 men armed with clubs, knuckle dusters and poles led by the head of a notorious security unit is said to have arrived at the Lake House premises to deal with the strikers. One of them had even pulled down a closed circuit camera placed on the corridor.
However the head of the security unit had suddenly noticed that a senior Navy official was supervising the positioning of his men for security tasks. Noticing him, the group had withdrawn from Lake House.
With the United National Front victory at Wednesday's elections, journalists at Lake House complained last night that members of the JSS, who had been re-called for work, were interfering in their editorial work. They were demanding to see how news and feature copies on the aftermath of the polls were being written and were dictating how it should be done. A complaint on this has already gone out to the UNP leadership.
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