Following the close of nominations on February 16th, CMEV commenced its monitoring of the Local Government Election of 2006. The first phase of monitoring covers the campaign followed by the second phase of monitoring of the conduct of the polls on Election Day, 30 March 2006.

Colombo based core staff will conduct monitoring initially. Two weeks prior to Election Day, CMEV will deploy seventy (70) field monitors to cover selected Local Government institutions, including all Municipal Councils.

CMEV intends to monitor seventy (70) Local Government Bodies, covering most of the Districts in the country. Several factors have contributed to the selection of these Local Government bodies. These include,

- Local Government institutions in areas which registered a high incidence of violence in previous elections;
- Tsunami effected areas where the functioning of local governments has been affected or is in question;
- Local government bodies with ethnically diverse electorates;
- Local government bodies in areas in which there are a considerable number of independent candidates and small regional parties contesting;

On the day of elections CMEV will deploy 1500 Polling Center Observers Island wide, concentrating on polling centers which are identified as sensitive in nature by CMEV Field Monitors. Apart from the Polling Center Observers, 15 teams of mobile monitors comprising 30 individuals will also be deployed to observe pre designated polling divisions on Election Day.

Since the close of nominations on 16th February 2006, CMEV has recorded a cumulative total of 77 incidents of election related violence. Of this total, 30 have been categorized as Major Incidents and of these, 17 are identified as Assaults. In terms geographical spread of incidence of violence, the highest number of Major Incidents have been reported in the Anuradhapura District.

The most serious incident reported to CMEV is the attack on the house of UNP candidate Mr.R.Sunil Silva, Negombo Municipal council. CMEV sources reported an incident where the house of a Municipal Council candidate was attacked by a group of people led allegedly by an UPFA candidate in Negombo town at around 2330hrs, Wednesday the 8th of March.

Mr.R.Sunil Silva, UNP Municipal Council candidate for Negombo Municipal Council, who is also the current deputy mayor of the said Council, informed CMEV that around 2230hrs a group of people had come to his residence and pasted campaign posters of UPFA candidate Mr.Nimal Lansa on the parapet wall of his house. Later, this group had fled the scene of incident, when approached by supporters of Mr.R.Sunil Silva, UNP candidate.

At around 2330hrs a group of 200 individuals, allegedly led by UPFA candidates Mr.Nimal Lansa and Mr.Bandula Naottunne had approached the house of Mr.R.Sunil Silva, forcing the occupants of the house to flee the area. However, a teenage girl who is a domestic of Mr. Silva’s had stayed behind.

According to Mr. Silva, the UPFA group had ransacked the house, causing damage worth Rs.1 Million. He also alleges that they robbed cash and jewellery worth Rs.2.8 Million. The assailants had not harmed the girl who was left behind, but had allegedly threatened her. Mr. Silva added that apart from damage to the house, the group had damaged 10 vehicles that were parked in the premises and had also fired shots in the air. Mr. Silva added that even though repeated complaints were made to the Kochchikade Police, they failed to respond to the situation for some time and that they acted in a biased manner when they eventually did.

When contacted by CMEV, SI E.M Karunaratne, OIC of Elections Unit, Kochcikade Police stated that they have taken measures to apprehend suspects over this incident and added that the Police had taken six UPFA supporters into custody.

However, SI Karunaratne refuted Mr. Sunil Silva’s allegation that the Police had acted in a biased manner and further stated that the Police is conducting investigations over the incident without any partiality towards any political party or candidate. Kochchikade Police had recorded this incident under Grievous crimes, number GCIB 223/53.Later Police had produced around 10 alleged UPFA members before the Negombo Magistrate. They were remanded till 23rd March 2006.

Mr. Joseph Michael Perera, MP and UNP organizer for Negombo Electorate, when contacted by CMEV stated that he had informed the local Police around 2230hrs but the Police failed to act upon his complaints, thus forcing him to complain to Police HQ in Colombo at around 0030hrs. It was only after this that a group of Police personnel were sent to the scene of incident. He was of the view that the Police was acting in a biased manner.

Repeated attempts by CMEV to contact Mr.Nimal Lansa and Mr.Bandula Náottunne, failed as both UPFA candidates were unavailable for comment.

Apart from the incident in Negombo CMEV has recorded the following incidents of significance from the Galle and Matara Districts.

UPFA assault on JVP- Imaduwa in Galle District- 11-03-06

CMEV was informed of an incident where a group of UPFA supporters had assaulted a group of JVP supporters in Imaduwa in Galle District around 0530hrs on 11th March 2006.

It is alleged that the JVP group was involved in elections campaigning in the vicinity of Bo-gahagoda in Imaduwa. An UPFA group had approached the JVP members and assaulted them. Two JVPers were injured. They were later admitted to Karapitiya Hospital for treatment later released following treatment for minor injuries. The two were identified as two JVP candidates, Mr.Priyantha Amal Sudhasingha and Mr.M.K Nishantha Nanayakkara.

When contacted by CMEV, Sergeant Manjula of Habaraduwa Police confirmed that such an incident had taken place and added that the Police were conducting further investigations. However, they have not apprehended any suspects over this incident. An entry had been lodged with the Police under EIB 31/14.

Mr.M.K.Lal Gamage, former PS member and present leader of JVP list for Habaraduwa PS, when contacted by CMEV, stated that the JVP group was assaulted by a group of around 20 UPFA supporters, following an argument. Furthermore, he added that this UPFA group was led by Mr.Chaminda Kumara Halloluwa, a UPFA supporter of Candidate Mr.J.K.D Jayawicrama.

When CMEV contacted UPFA Habaraduwa Organizer, Mr.Chandima Weerakkodi, he stated that an argument had broken out between the two groups over putting up of each others posters and allegations of both parties pasting posters over each others propaganda material. Later Mr.Weerakkodi added that he had requested his supporters to meet with the JVP supporters and come to an agreement over displaying posters and other campaign material.

JVP-UNP Clash in Akuressa Town- 13-03-06

CMEV was informed of a clash between a group of supporters of the JVP and UNP in Akuressa town around 0630hrs on 13th March 2006. This incident took place in the vicinity of a JVP office in Akuressa town.

It is reported that a group of UNP supporters had assaulted JVP supporters over an incident where supporters of the JVP were accused by the former of pasting their posters over UNP campaign posters.

It is alleged that both groups were led by candidates of respective parties with Mr.Saman Kumara Suraweera of JVP leading the JVP supporters and Mr.Chandana Priyantha, the UNP group. It is also reported that Mr.Chandana Priyantha, UNP supporter and Local Government Election candidate had sustained injuries over the clash and is undergoing treatment in Karapitiya Hospital.

When contacted by CMEV, PC Kusumsiri of Akuressa Police stated that they are conducting further investigations and added that they have not been able to apprehend any suspect over the alleged clash.

PC Kusumsiri furthermore added that both parties have lodged complaints with the Police over this incident and highlighted the fact that JVP candidate had alleged that he had been robbed of Rs.35, 000.00 by the UNP supporters. UNP Candidate Mr.Chandana Priyantha had allegedly complained that the JVP supporters had robbed him of a bracelet valued at Rs.90, 000.00. Furthermore, Mr.Chandana Priyantha had named JVP candidate Mr. Saman Kumara Suraweera as the alleged assailant.

When contacted by CMEV, representatives of the JVP office in Matara denied the incident and stated that a minor incident had occurred in Akuressa but denied that there was a clash between the two groups. They added that the JVP supporters were assaulted by the UNP supporters.

However, when contacted by CMEV, secretary of Akuressa UNP organizer, Mr.Chameera Dhushantha stated that, the UNP group had observed JVP supporters putting up posters over UNP posters and when the UNP had complained over this act, the JVP supporters had assaulted the UNP supporters, injuring a UNP candidate and also robbing a bracelet.

Dr. P. Saravanamuttu Co-Convenor	Sunila Abeysekera Co-Convenor	Seetha Ranjani Co-Convenor