With more incidents relating to the misuse of State property and vehicles been reported from the Central and North Western Provinces, opposition parities on Friday urged the Elections Secretariat and police to take necessary steps to minimise this misuse.
At a regular meeting held at the Elections Secretariat last week, with the participation of political party representatives, the UNP and the JVP alleged that State property including vehicles and official bungalows have been used for election purposes.
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| A campaign vehicle at Kakkapalliya without a number plate |
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| Minister Alavi Moulana campaigning in Puttalam |
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| UNP stalwarts Karu Jayasuriya and Gamini Jayawickrema Perera at a Melsiripura election rally |
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| JVP Chief Ministerial candidate Nimal Herath addresses the media in Kurunegala about alleged corruption by the previous administration. |
Vehicles of several ministries such as those of the Social Services, Fisheries and Livestock Ministries were seen being used for election activities in Kalpitiya, Madurankuliya and Puttalam areas, while Ceylon Electricity Board vehicles and Environmental Ministry vehicles were being used for election activities in Kandy town, The Sunday Times learns.
The UNP submitted to the Elections Commissioner a list of vehicles that had been allegedly misused, UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake said.
North Western Province JVP Chief Ministerial candidate Nimal Herath said that a prominent minister and around 80 of his supporters are currently residing at the premises of the Irrigation Engineers Training Institute of the Irrigation Department in Galgamuwa.
Students and officials of the institute were given a holiday and the place has now been turned into an elections office, Mr. Herath said.
He added that a ceremony was to be held this month to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Institute. However, on the direction by the Minister the ceremony has been postponed for February 15.
Another minister and his supporters are residing at a holiday bungalow located in the office premises of the Irrigation Department at Rajanganaya, Mr. Herath said.
The holiday bungalow of the Paddy Research Institute located in Bathalagoda is also used for election activities by a minister, whose wife is contesting in the upcoming elections, he added.
Central Province JVP Chief Ministerial candidate Samansiri Fernando said that principals and teachers of Tamil medium schools in the Central Province are been used for campaigning by a UPFA candidate.
Meanwhile, several other incidents of elections related violence were also reported from the two provinces last week.
Local elections watchdog People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said that it received reports on 13 incidents. These include seven cases of assaults, one case of threat and intimidation and five cases of damages to political party properties, Deputy Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi said.
However, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said that only one such incident was reported from Polgahawela.
Six people were injured when SLMC member Abideen Seihudeen, who is contesting under the UNP ticket, was attacked by a gang in Puttalam town last Monday when he was campaigning with his supporters. The injured were rushed to the Puttalam hospital. Several vehicles were also damaged in the incident. The UNP claims that the attack was carried out by Livestock Development deputy minister K. A. Baiz and about 50 of his supporters.
However, when contacted by The Sunday Times Mr. Baiz denied that he was involved in the attack. He added that while he was at the Puttalam hospital visiting some people who were injured during another clash between UPFA and UNP supporters in Puttalam town, a security officer of the UNP candidate had attempted to shoot him and one of his security officers had tried to stop it.
The deputy minister also alleged that this particular UNP candidate who tried to shoot him was going around in Puttalam town with a repeater rifle and a gang of over 25 men.
North Western Province UNP Chief Ministerial candidate Shamal Senarath said that there was still a climate of fear and tension in the area. “People still remember what it was like during the last Wayamba elections where women were assaulted in broad daylight and large scale violence occurred. There’s still that fear and suspicion,” he said.
Police Election Secretariat DIG Gamini Navaratne said police were investigating the incidents and tough action would be taken. “We do not accept any form of violence and police are investigating all the incidents reported. We are taking all the necessary steps to ensure that violence in kept to a minimum and the elections conducted in a free and fair manner. We would also ensure that the polling cards are distributed peacefully in the coming weeks,” he said.
He also urged political parties and party supporters to help ensure that the elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.
The last day for submission of applications to obtain temporary identity cards is February 3.
Wayamba UNP chief candidate, wife attacked
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| Ayub Khan’s wife receiving treatment |
A UNP election campaign conducted at a market place in Arachchikattuwa, Puttalam came under attack from a group of suspected UPFA supporters, reports said.
North Western Provincial Council UNP Chief Ministerial candidate L. M. Ayub Khan and his wife were injured in the attack and admitted to Puttalam Hospital along with four others.
One of the vehicles used to transport those involved in the attack was detained by the police but it was forcibly taken away by an unknown group while the vehicle was being driven to the police station, the reports said.
UNP political office torched
By L.B.Senaratne
The first major polls related incident in the run up to the elections in the Central Province was reported with the setting on fire of a UNP political office in Muruthalawa in the Yatinuwara electorate yesterday.
On Friday night unidentified persons had set fire to the office causing extensive damage to it.
Give Opposition equal air time on State media: JVP
The JVP on Friday called on the Elections Commissioner to allocate equal air time on State media to opposition parties as the Government was misusing the State media.
The JVP made this request at a regular meeting at the Elections Secretariat last week with the participation of political party representatives.
JVP MP Sunil Handunetti who attended this meeting said “State media are being used for election purposes by the Government. However, the opposition parties don’t get the same prominence in the State media.”
“We urged the Elections Commissioner to look into this issue and give equal air time for opposition parties on State media,” he added.
This comes amidst allegations that a large number of State vehicles and property are also being misused in the Central and North Western Provinces where the elections are due to take place on February 14. |
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