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Attack on UNP office bodes ill for Uva poll
With the Uva Provincial Council just ahead, the office of an opposition political party in the area has come under attack, police said.
Election violence began with an attack on a United National Party (UNP) election campaign office at Hali-Ela on Thursday, just days
People in the Uva Province face a lot of hardships. Pix by Palitha Ariyawansha
before the Uva PC is to be dissolved.
According to reports from the Campaign for Free and Fair Election (CaFFE), the UNP office in Hali-Ela was attacked by a gang using tar and waste oil.
The incident came after some United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) members allegedly clashed with UNP party members at a private property. UNP Uva provincial councillor and organiser Jayantha Kannangara and members of the party have lodged a complaint with police regarding the incident.
Police said they had not yet apprehended any suspects but had deployed a special team to investigate on the incident and identify suspects. He said four masked persons had arrived at the site and caused damage to the meeting place.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, CaFFE Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon said that according to reports received, the people who allegedly attacked the UNP operational center in Hali-Ela were supporters of a government minister in the area.
He said all major political parties should pledge themselves to conducting a non-aggressive propaganda campaign for the upcoming election but such violent acts could not be tolerated.
The CaFFE official noted that Hali-Ela was renowned for such violence and that numerous
Residents of Beragala in Uva Province protest against the need for a road
complaints about violence and poll violations were received during the last election held in the electorate.
People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said the lack of political decorum resulted in politicians, especially those from major political parties conducting unfair political campaigns and violating the code of ethics to conduct free and fair elections.
UNP Badulla District MP Harin Fernando, tipped as a possible chief ministerial candidate of the party said recent attacks “clearly indicates that the government feels intimidated and unsettled by the growing strength of the UNP ahead of the polls”. He added that UPFA provincial council members openly violated election laws with their election propaganda campaigns distributing goods and other items to people in a bid to gain their votes.
Mr. Fernando said there was no final decision yet on who would be the UNP chief ministerial candidate for the forthcoming election but that the people of Uva wanted change.
“The annual report issued by Central Bank proves that Uva province is the poorest in the country and people suffer as they can hardly even provide for their children and families at the current cost of living,” he said.
He also criticised the reduction in the number of seats in the Badulla district in the run-up to the poll.
The Elections Commissioner announced recently that the number of seats in Badulla District would be reduced to 19 from 22 and that in Monaragala, the other district in the Uva Province, the seats would increase to 15 from 12.
Mr. Tennakoon from CaFFE pointed out, however, that the seats of each district are allocated according to a mechanism designed and initiated by the Delimitations Commission which allows the Department of Elections to decide on changes and allocate seats accordingly.
He said the increase in the number of seats in Monaragala District was due to the increased number of registered voters in the area compared to Badulla District.
The Additional Commissioner of Department of Elections R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said the Elections Department will begin preparations for the Uva Provincial Council election effectively with the dissolution of the present Provincial Council.