CMEV notes with grave concern the statement reported to have been made by UPFA Co-National Organizer and Gampaha District Organizer, Anura Bandaranaike at a public rally in Mahawa in the Kurunagala District as reported in the Lankadeepa newspaper of 11th March 2004.

Mr. Bandaranaike is reported to have said that the UPFA would dismiss the Police Commission once they came into power.

In our past statements we have commended the actions taken by the present Police Commission to ensure the conduct of a violence-free election campaign and a free and fair election. We strongly feel that the continuing presence of a strong and independent Police Commission is essential for the preservation of law and order and for the elimination of all forms of violence and intimidation as a part of the on-going election campaign. In this context, we feel that statements such as that reported to have been made by Mr. Banadaranaike only undermine respect for an institution that is critical for the conduct of a free and fair election.

We call on all political leaders and others involved in the election campaign to respect the public institutions entrusted with the conduct of the elections of April 2, 2004 and to desist from making any statements that may undermine their existence.


CMEV was formed in 1997 by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), the Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Coalition Against Political Violence as an independent and non-partisan organisation to monitor the incidence of election related violence.

Dr. P. Saravanamuttu Co-Convenor	Sunila Abeysekera Co-Convenor	Sundanda Deshapriya Co-Convenor