CMEV has received several reports regarding incidents of assault and injury to persons as well as damage to property during the on-going election campaign. We feel that such an escalation of violence in the last week of the campaign has dangerous implications for the free and fair nature of the forthcoming elections.

In one incident on March 19, UPFA candidate D. Kulaweera has complained that his office at Kamburugamuwa Junction in Matara was attacked by a group of UNF supporters led by a person identified as Asela, at about 22.30. A vehicle used in the attack is said to belong to the Fisheries Ministry (Registration No. WPGE 6301) and is being used by UNF candidate and former Minister Mahinda Wijesekera for his campaign. After the attack, Mr. Kulaweera alleges that the attackers also went to the home of a former PA member of the Weligama Pradeseheeya Sabha, Nimal Vidanagamacchi, and threatened him. Mrs. L.G. Kusumawathie, Mr. Kulaweera’s mother, who was a witness to the attack has made a complaint to the Matara Police (EIB 123/111) in this regard. Mr. Kulaweera estimates that the damage caused to his property is about Rs. 30,000. However, the Police have recorded the statement to say that damages were caused only to the decorations on the premises. Mr. Kulaweera says that the Police are not acting impartially in this regard. When asked about the attack, Mr. Wijesekera has commented that he does not worry about these kinds of complaints because so many are being made against him. Mr. Pushpakumara, UNF member and Vice Chairman of the Weligama PS has denied any involvement with this incident. Asela has been released by the Police after recording his statement.

On March 20, Gamini Wickremanayake, UNP member and Vice Chairman of the Buttala Pradesheeya Sabha has complained that at about 2.25 a.m. a group of persons led by two security guards of Jayasundera Wijekoon, UNF candidate for Moneragala District, opened fire at his house. Damages were caused to the building as well as two vehicles parked inside (Registration Nos.: 68-8325, UPHD 0633). Approximately 42 shots had been fired, according to Mr. Wickremanayake, but nobody sustained injuries. Mr. Wickremanayake was hurt by a wooden club thrown at him by the attackers. He has lodged a complaint at the Buttala Police (EIB 115/37). Police are conducting investigations and have arrested two persons, A.K.G.N. Upali Jayasinha and U.G. Hemasiri Dayawansa. Both of them are said to the police Constables attached to Mr. Wijekoon’s security detail. The reason for the attack is said to be Mr. Wickremanayake’s support for another UNF candidate for Moneragala, Ananda Kumarasiri. Mr. Wijekoon denies the allegations.

Also on March 20, T.M. Upul Tennekoon was admitted to Galagedera Hospital as a consequence of an attack on a vehicle he was driving, while engaging in propaganda work for UNF candidate for Kandy District, Sarath Kongahage. The attack on the vehicle (Registration No. 61 - 4119) took place at about 16.30 in Galagedera town. Following the attack, Mr. Tennakoon was admitted to hospital, but due to further threats, it became difficult for him to remain in hospital and he was discharged on the morning of the 21st. A complaint was lodged in this regard with the Galagedera Police (EIB 175/43) and 3 UPFA supporters, D.M. Sarath Kumara Dissanayake, A.M. Sisiraratna and D.A. Tilakaratna have been taken into custody. Mr. Kongahage has said that the attack took place but has failed to identify the perpetrators. Although there have been allegations that supporters of Sarath Amunugama, UPFA candidate for Kandy, were involved in this incident, Mr. Amunugama’s Coordinating Secretary Shaheed has denied this.

On March 20, at about 18.30 N.J. Bandara, a supporter of UNF candidate for Anuradhapura, P. Harrison, was attacked with a sword by H.M. Karunasena and D.M. Lionel Gunatilaka, UPFA supporters of the area, while on the road in Rajanganaya. Mr. Bandara was admitted to the Tambuttegama Hospital with cut injuries to his left hand and received 7 stitches to his wound. Mr. Lakshman, a friend of Mr. Bandara, has lodged a complaint (EIB 50.34) in this regard. Mr. Lionel is absconding while Mr. Karunasena has been arrested by the Tambuttegama Police. Mr. Harrison’s Secretary has said he knows nothing about this attack.

On March 20, Malith Hasintha and W.A.Wasantha Thamel, supporters of Sanath Nisantha, a UPFA candidate for Puttalam district were assaulted with iron rods on their heads, backs, hands and legs while they were visiting a friend, Jude, in Muttupanthiya. Another friend, known as ‘Motorola’ was with them. A white van (Registration No. 59-3598) stopped in front of the house and Nalaka and Roshan, supporters of Mr.Dharmasena, UNF member and Chairman of the Arachchikattuwa PS got out and began to assault the victims who had come out of the house by then. Both were later admitted to the Chilaw Hospital (Ward No 04). A complaint has been to the Chilaw Police (EIB 253/155) in this regard.

Making a counter complaint (EIB 256/156) on the same day C.H.K.C.Prasad has alleged that he, Dharmasena, the chairman of the Arachchikattuwa PS (UNP), Adippala Taranga, Kapila and A. Nishantha had gone to meet one Mr. Raja, a supporter of Dharmasena to his residence. They were then threatened by “Motorola”, Malith Hasantha and Wasantha Thamel who were in Jude’s house. “Motorola” and Malith Hasantha are alleged to have threatened them with “Galkatas” guns and “Motorola” has opened fire. Fifteen minutes later the two groups have met at the same place. Again “Motorola” has pointed the gun at the other group but the weapon has not fired. Then “Motorola” attempted to assault them at which point both parties have attacked each other with clubs and stones. Thereafter “Motorola” and Amila Wasantha have fled the place of incident.

Two persons, Chaminda Prasad and Kapila Gajanayake have been taken into custody on the basis of the first complaint and were remanded until March 23. The vehicle the attackers came had also been taken into custody. The two assault victims are still in Chilaw hospital. Police state that even though the second complaint mentions that “Motorola” fired towards Amila Wasantha and his group, there is no evidence to prove it.

Mr. Jagath Samantha, the secretary of Sanath Nishantha, UPFA-candidate for Puttalam District, confirmed that “Motorola” and Malith Hasintha and Amila Wasantha were his supporters and denied that “Motorola” had used a gun during the incident. Mr. Dharmasena says that the second complaint was correct and says that the vehicle taken into custody was not involved in the incident.

On March 21, close to midnight, a Buddhist Monk and JHU candidate, the Ven. Hunupitiye Sasanasiri Tissa, was attacked by a group of supporters of Olitha Premathiratna, UNP candidate and Katana Organizer for the UNP who came into the premises of the Sisura Dinakaraaramaya temple in Katuwapitiya, Negombo, threatened the monk who is the chief incumbent of this temple, and demanded Rs. 50,000 from him. Sugath Karunanayake has been identified as the person who assaulted the monk. The Ven. Sasanasiri Thera who complained of severe body pains and dizziness, was admitted to the Negombo Base Hospital. A complaint was registered by the Ven. Meegamuwe Dhammavansa in this regard (EIB 89/97), and Police are conducting inquiries. Two persons have been taken into custody. Mr. Premathiratna denies that his supporters are involved in the incident.

CMEV draws public attention to these incidents since they constitute a growing body of evidence of the lack of commitment on the part of political parties and supporters engaged in the on-going election campaign to a violence-free campaign. We feel that these incidents contribute to build up an environment of insecurity and fear which will clearly prevent the holding of a free and fair election on April 2, 2004.

We once again appeal to political leaders of all parties contesting the elections to take strict disciplinary action against their supporters who are found to be involved in incidents of violence as a strong signal of their commitment to a free and fair election.

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 organization to monitor the incidence of election related violence.

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