As at Thursday 29 November 2001, a total of 1882 incidents of election related violence have been reported to CMEV, since the dissolution of Parliament on 10 October 2001. A total of 1023 (4.35%) of these incidents have been categorised as Major Incidents including Murder (25), Attempted Murder (36), Hurt (197), Grievous Hurt (44), Assault (344), Threat and Intimidation (223) and Arson (93). The use of firearms has been reported in 383 (20.35%) of the cumulative total of 1882 incidents.

In the Major Incidents category, the PA has been identified as the alleged perpetrator in 484 (47.31%) cases and the UNP in 290 (28.34%) cases. Together they account for 774 (93.25%) of the Major Incidents in which the party affiliation of the alleged perpetrator has been identified.

In terms of the geographical location of the Major Incidents, the highest have been recorded in the Anuradhapura District (115) followed closely by the Puttalam District (111). The Digamadulla and Hambantota Districts have recorded 79 and 73 incidents, respectively, in this category. The UNP has made a total of 755 (40.11%) complaints against the PA and the PA in turn has made a total of 424 (22.52%) complaints against the UNP. These in turn constitute 76.18% of all complaints made by the UNP and 74.38% of all complaints made by the PA, reflecting the violent nature of the contest between the two main parties. The two main parties are identified in 1411 (92.82%) of the complaints in which the alleged perpetrator has been identified by party and as the alleged perpetrator in 74.97% of all complaints. The JVP has made a total of 105 (5.68%) of all complaints received. Of the JVP complaints, 22 (20.56%) have been against the PA and 56 (52.33%) are against the UNP.

CMEV calls on the leaders of the two main parties, the PA and the UNP, to take immediate and effective steps to halt the violence perpetrated by their candidates and supporters which is a clear threat to the integrity of the electoral process and democracy in Sri Lanka.

CENTRAL PROVINCE: NUWARA ELIYA DISTRICT
CMEV learned today, Friday 30 November 2001 from CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman of an incident involving ballot papers. CMEV spoke to the OIC of the Kithulgala Police Station who confirmed that a vehicle belonging to the Livestock Development Board was stopped at a road block at Kithulgala with 100,000 ballot papers in the vehicle. The OIC told CMEV that these were not authentic ballot papers but model copies. The ballot papers had been marked in favour of the PA symbol the chair and against numbers 04, 09 and 10. The candidates with respect to these numbers are 04 - Kanapathy Kanagaraj, 09-V.Putrasigamani and 10 - Suppiah Rajarathnam CMEV contacted Mr. Sathasivam's secretary Mr Subramaniam, who said that these ballot papers had been printed on newspaper and were to be used for voter education.

Assistant Election Commissioner Rasika Peiris told CMEV that the police had been given the responsibility to deal with the matter.

SABARAGAMUWA PROVINCE: RATNAPURA DISTRICT
Yesterday, Thursday 29th November, Mr L.C Joseph succumbed to injuries sustained in an assault on him and 03 other supporters of PA candidate Premalal Jayasekere - Mr. Chintaka Sandaruwan, Mr. Irshad and Mr. V. Indika. It is alleged that at approximately 1045 hrs about 20 UNP supporters in a Dolphin van (250-6259) and another van had pulled the PA supporters out of the lorry they were travelling in and assaulted them near Nivithigala. CMEV spoke to the victims' lawyer who did not wish to reveal his name. The lawyer stated that Mr. Chintaka Sandaruwan had seen one of the UNP supporters stab Mr. L.C Joseph with a knife. However, he is unable to identify the attacker by name. The lawyer and Mr Chintaka Sandaruwan further allege that when they were taking Mr. L.C. Joseph to the hospital they encountered UNP candidate Mr. Gamini Athukorale and some of his supporters travelling in about 12 vehicles. According to them, the UNP convoy had blocked their way. Mr Chinthaka and his lawyer both charge that they had informed Mr. Athukorale that some of his supporters had assaulted them and that one of them had been stabbed. They further allege that when they had asked Mr. Athukorale to make way for them to go to the hospital, Mr Athukorale told his supporters to beat them up, which they did. PA supporters Mr. Irshad and Mr. V. Indika are warded at the Ratnapura Hospital at present.

CMEV contacted OIC of the Ratnapura Police Mr. Ranaweera who stated that Chinthaka Sandaruwan has made a statement to the police regarding the incident. He also stated that a postmortem is to take place tomorrow (30 November) and that no one has been taken into custody in connection with the attack. CMEV was told by the lawyer and the victims who are at present hospitalized, that they have not been provided with police protection and that they fell feel they are in a vulnerable situation. When CMEV asked OIC Ranaweera about this, he stated that protection had in fact been provided to the injured. CMEV can confirm that no protection had been provided to the injured persons yesterday (29 November) when they were visited in hospital. Hospital police state however, that four policemen have indeed been posted.

CMEV contacted PA candidate Mr. Premalal Jayasekere's secretary, Mr. S.M. Withanage, who confirmed the information received by CMEV about the attack. CMEV has tried to contact Mr. Gamini Athukorale a number of times, but could not speak to him. CMEV contacted ASP Devasiri Malinbada, who stated that necessary action would be taken regarding the attack and that security in the area has been tightened.

NORTH-WESTERN: KURUNEGALA DISTRICT
A clash had taken place between supporters of UNP candidates Gamini Jayawickreme Perera, Upali Piyasoma and Akila Kariyawasam and supporters of PA candidate Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, yesterday 29 November. This incident had taken place at approximately 1615 hrs at Daraluwa Junction, Katugampola, Kurunegala.

Gamini Jayawickreme and Upali Piyasoma had organised a procession on the day with about 130 vehicles. Supporters of the PA candidate Anura Priyadharshana Yapa had been outside a boutique at the junction and had hooted at the procession leading to a clash between supporters of the two parties. The two UNP candidates were not present during the clash as they had already left the junction. Shots had been fired by some persons in the crowd resulting in the death of Mr. D.B. Dissanayake and injuries to Mr. Sanjeewa Wijesinghe, Ms. Siriyalatha Herath, Mr. Ranjith Kumara and Mr. Vijitha Abeysinghe. DMO Dr. Ranasinghe stated that Mr. D.B. Dissanayake was dead on admission at the Sandalanka Hospital. Three of the injured persons have been transferred to the Negombo Hospital from Sandalanka Hospital where they are at present receiving treatment. Ms. Siriyalatha was transferred from Sandalanka Hospital to the Negombo Hospital and then to the Colombo General Hospital where she is at present receiving treatment.

CMEV then spoke to OIC Kanthikumara of the Pannala Police Station who stated that an investigation into the incident is underway but that no one has as yet been arrested. He also stated that after inspecting the weapons and ammunitions of the Police Escorts who had been given to UNP candidates, Mr. G.J. Perera and U. Piyasoma, they found that the ammunition and weapons had not been used. He also stated that 5 motorcycles, 4 UNP vehicles and a few boutiques had been damaged as a result of the clash.

CMEV spoke to Mr. Gamini Jayawickreme Perera who stated that he did not take part in the clash as he had passed the junction long before the fight and was half a mile away when the incident had taken place. He also stated that he had received a telephone call stating that such an attack was taking place and that he had informed the police about the incident. He also stated that he had seen Mr. Peter Peiris (Vice President of the Pannala Pradeshiya Sabha), Athula Herath, Mr. Srilal and Mr. Bandara all supporters of the PA at the boutique when he had passed by. He further stated that his bodyguards had prevented him from going to the scene. He had then stopped the march and had gone to the Pannala Police Station to lodge a complaint. When asked as to whether his party was responsible for the death and injuries, stated that he cannot comment on the basis that he was not at the scene of the incident. He also stated that the police had inspected their weapons and ammunitions and found that they had not been used in the attack.

CMEV contacted Mr. Yapa who stated that he has been conducting his campaign in a very peaceful manner and that he doesn't need to get involved in such incidents. He has been informed that the UNP supporters had T56 assault rifles and other weapons when the incident had taken place. He further stated that one of those alleged to have been identified as being at the scene of the attack, is an employee of the Lake House and was working at the time the attack took place.

Today, Friday 30 November, CMEV learns that on the basis of statements made by the injured persons, UNP candidate Akila Kariyawasam and UNP supporter Mr Tillekeratne have been arrested. Mr Kariyawasam has been released on bail and Mr Tillekeratne has been remanded in Kurunegala prison till 13 December 2001. The B report number is 1924/2001.

On 27 November Zulfikar, M.L. Rifai and Saman Bandara, supporters of UNP candidate Jonston Fernando were travelling together in a van (License no: 250-3829) when at the Muttetugala Junction at approximately 3:30 a.m. they allege that supporters of PA candidate Salinda Dissanayake travelling in a Prado, Defender and two other vehicles pulled them out of their van and assaulted them. The damage to the van is estimated at approximately 1 lakh of rupees. The three occupants of the van have been admitted to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital for treatment of their injuries. A complaint has been made to the Kurunegala Police regarding this incident by UNP supporter N.L.M.Siddique, but no one has been apprehended as yet.

CMEV spoke to I.P. Karunaratne of the Kurunegala Police station who stated that he had received a complaint about the incident at 6:10 a.m. and that the EIB no. is 41/54. No suspects have been arrested in relation to the incident as yet and an investigation is being conducted into it.

CMEV spoke to Mr. Jonston Fernando's co-ordinator, Mr. Sarath Premajayantha. He stated that Mr. Salinda Dissanyake's supporters are responsible for the incident. He also stated that the perpetrators had not been identified by name by the victims of the assault. He also informed CMEV that the damaged vehicle belongs to the complainant Mr. Siddique, a supporter of UNP candidate Mr. Jonston Fernando. Mr. T.B. Wijesuriya, secretary to PA candidate Mr. Salinda Dissanayake denied the charges made by the UNP when contacted by CMEV.

In another incident on the same morning (27 November 2001) involving supporters of the Mr Fernando (UNP) and Mr Dissanayake (PA), Salinda Dissanayake's supporter Sarath Dharmatilleke when returning to the candidate's house at approximately 0915 hrs alleges that at the Muththettugala Rail gate he saw UNP candidate Mr. Jonston Fernando and about 20 others, blocking the rail gate in order to beat him up. Mr Dhamatilleke had on seeing the assailants fled the scene, leaving behind a van (license no. 53-3417) belonging to Mr Salinda Dissanayake (PA). Mr. Jonston Fernando (UNP) and his supporters have damaged the van. The damages are estimated at approximately Rs. 50,000, and an amplifier worth Rs. 20,000 has also been reported missing. It is also alleged that Mr Fernando's supporters had shot into the air - injuring Mr. Vasantha Jayaweera a Samurdhi Animator and PA supporter who had been travelling with his pregnant wife at that time. Mr. Jayaweera was shot in the chest and is at present warded at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital. The attackers have been identified as Mr. Jonston Fernando, Eliyamulle Saman, Shantha and Terrence Samarakoone. No arrests have been made in this regard, though a complaint has been made to the Kurunegala Police Station about the incident.

CMEV spoke to I.P. Karunaratne, Kurunegala Police Station who stated that the incident had taken place at approximately 0915 hrs in the morning. The complaint had been made to the police at 1300 hrs (GCIB-2-202/296) and no one has been taken into custody as yet. The matter is being investigated.

CMEV spoke to Mr Salinda Dissanayake's secretary, T.M. Wijesuriya. He stated that the damage was estimated at a lakh of rupees and that Mr. Jonston Fernando and his supporters are responsible for the attack.

Mr. Sarath Premajayantha, Mr. Jonston Fernando's coordinator was contacted by CMEV. He accepted responsibility of the UNP supporters for the damage to the van.

WESTERN PROVINCE: GAMPAHA DISTRICT
In an incident reported from the Western Province on 27 November, 13 supporters of UNP candidate Karu Jayasuriya were assaulted with iron rods and bicycle chains, allegedly by supporters of Reggie Ranathunga, PA candidate for the Gampaha District. The incident took place at approximately midnight, allegedly in front of Mr. Ranathunga's residence. According to Mr. Jayasuriya's Coordinating Secretary, Mr. Ranjan Bandara, a van containing around thirteen UNP supporters was driving past the residence of Mr. Ranathunga when its path was blocked by suppporters of Mr. Ranathunga. This is said to have resulted in the van crashing into a ditch. Thereupon, Mr Ranathunga's supporters have allegedly attacked the van using iron rods and assaulted the passengers. According to Mr. Ranjan Bandara, UNP supporter Indika Silva was then taken into the residence of Mr. Ranathunga, whereupon he was beaten again severely. Mr. Bandara also stated that Indika Silva was then handed over to Mr Ranathunga who had questioned his supporters as to why Indika Silva was brought in to the house, instead of being killed right away. When asked by CMEV, Mr. Ranjan Bandara explicitly stated that he takes full responsibility for this allegation.

Upon being contacted by CMEV, Mr. Chandana Mallawarachchi, an offical at the office of Mr. Reggie Ranathunga who refused to divulge his designation to CMEV, dismissed the allegation made by Mr. Ranjan Bandara. According to Mr. Mallawarachchi, between midnight and 0100 hrs, a speeding van carrying supporters of Mr. Jayasuriya had stopped in front of Mr. Ranathunga's residence and fired shots into the air. Shortly, thereafter a white Mazda van [license plate no. 251-1983] containing 05 UNP supporters had rammed into a lorry [license no. 47-4672] parked outside Mr Ranathunga's residence. The lorry is used in Mr. Ranathunga's campaign. Police Officers providing security for Mr. Ranathunga had then arrived at the scence and upon examining the UNP supporters, placed them in custody as they were allegedly, drunk. They were then taken to the Gampaha Police Station.

CMEV spoke to a nurse at the General Hospital Colombo, regarding the attack. She did not wish to reveal her identity and stated that Indika Silva is warded in ward 72. She also stated that he has head injuries and that he is to undergo a scan. When CMEV contacted the hospital later in the evening, we were told that he is now concious and able to speak.

CMEV contacted the Hospital Police. An officer there who wished to remain anonymous stated that Indika had been admitted on 28 November 2001 at 1030 hrs. The Hospital Police further stated that the Gampaha Police has been given the information necessary to investigate the matter.

The Gampaha Police was later contacted by CMEV. They informed CMEV that no complaint regarding the attack had been made by either Mr. Ranathunga's party or Mr. Karu Jayasuriya's. They however informed CMEV that K.P.A. Nanditha Kumara, J.M. Vasantha Bandara, A.B. Uduwella, R.P. Upali, Sunil Asanka, Jagath Kumara, J.M.K. Bandara, Namal Kumara and Dinesh Bandara were the UNP supporters who had been assaulted by Mr. Ranathunga's supporters in the incident.

SOUTHERN PROVINCE: HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT
In an incident centred around a meeting of UNP candidate Mr Sajith Premadasa close to the Mddeniya bus stand at aound 1500 hrs on 27 November 2001, an old man has been knocked down, a number of others hospitalised and vehicles burnt.

It is alleged that the vehicle that had knocked down the old man is a pick up bearing posters of PA candidates Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Chamal Rajapakse and that it had passed by the UNP meeting several times before the incident took place. CMEV was informed that UNP supporters had hooted at the occupants of the pick up and stoned it. CMEV was also informed that police officers present at the scene had restored the situation and released the pick up without arresting its occupants. The Police told CMEV that this was not the case and that the pick up had driven away after the incident.

It is further alleged that the pick up returned to the site of the UNP meeting after about an hour and that an occupant of the pickup had shot several times at the stage. Those attending the meeting had responded by stoning the pick up. According to Mr. Sajith Premadasa (UNP), the four occupants of the pick up then got out of the vehicle and had thrown an explosive into it. The police however state that those attending the meeting had set fire to the pick up and that the explosion that had taken place, had been caused by the petrol tank of the pickup catching fire and not due to an explosive. Chaos had prevailed at the scene of the incident and 04 people had been hospitalised at the Kariyamaditta Hospital. Simon, L.G. Priyantha, W.I. Ananda and I.W. Kusumawathi have been subsequently discharged. Three (03) police officers had been admitted to the Katuwana Hospital, but have discharged themsleves against the doctor's wishes. It is also aleged that at approximately 0730 hrs when an Elf Canter and a Dolphin van sent by UNP candidate Mr. Sajith Premadasa had gone to the site of the meeting to collect cutouts and other election material, two vehicles had come by and set fire to the two vehicles.

CMEV spoke to Dr. E. Jayasinghe of the Katuwana Hospital who stated that 04 people had been admitted to the hospital and that 04 Police officers had been injured when stones had been thrown at them.

When CMEV contacted Minister Mahinda Rajapakse's Party Office in Hambantota an Officer who did not wish to reveal his name denied the charges made by UNP supporters and stated that they had no involvement with the incident.

CMEV then contacted UNP candidate Mr. Sajith Premadasa. He did not identify any of the perpetrators by name or party affiliation but told CMEV that he is sure that the attack had been perpetrated by a party opposed to him.

When CMEV spoke to the Middeniya Police, they stated that one of the perpetrators who had been in the pickup has been hospitalised and that they would start the investigation with him.

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