By 0900 hrs this morning (05 December 2001), CMEV has received a number of reports from its monitors alleging serious violence and electoral malpractice. The allegations include ballot stuffing and voter intimidation by armed gangs. The CMEV monitor has been assaulted in Gampola and CMEV international observers have been threatened in Attanagala and Kekirewa. By 1100 hrs, CMEV was informed that Wariyapola town had been effectively taken over by an armed group, allegedly members of the Presidential Security Division (PSD).

The following are a sampling of reports received so far.

CENTRAL PROVINCE: KANDY DISTRICT

Gampola Polling Division:
Doluwa Polling Centre, No 24). 0715 hrs.
It is alleged that at 0715 hrs armed supporters of PA candidate D.M.Jayaratne were harassing voters.

Wickremabahu Madyamahavidyalaya, Miriyawatta, Polling Centre no 52, 0845 hrs.
CMEV monitor Sisira Godagama was threatened and assaulted by supporters of PA candidate D.M. Jayaratne and his CMEV identity card snatched today 05 December at 0850 hrs.

Pupuressa Junior School, Polling Centre No 43 and Delta Tamil School, Polling Centre No 45 at 0745 hrs
Alleged that supporters of PA candidate Sivasamy Rajaratnam were forcibly snatching polling cards.

Patha Dumbara Polling Division:
Dematagolla Mahaweli Mahajavidyalaya, Polling Centre No 10 at 0640 hrs
Alleged that Lohan Rawatte's gangs were forcibly preventing JVP supporters from voting.

Girakkaduwa Kanishta Vidyalaya, Polling Centre Nos 23& 24 at 0800 hrs
Alleged that Lohan Ratwatte's gang was shooting and intimidating voters and that the polling centre had closed.

Polgolla Co-operative School , Polling Centre No 11 at 0758 hrs
Alleged that Polling Centre already closed.

Udu Dumbara Polling Division:
Ulpathagama Junior School, Polling Centres Nos 32& 33 at 0703 hrs
It is alleged that UNP supporters stoned the vehicle of PA candidate R.B.Herath and that his bodyguards responded by shooting into the air.

Yatinuwara Polling Division:
Kaduganawa Kanishta Vidyalaya, Polling Centre No 39 and Kaduganawa Maha Vidalaya, Polling Centre No 26 at 0755 hrs.
Alleged that UNP supporters in three wheelers are blocking the roads and preventing access to polling stations.

Alleged that the PA party office in Kaduganawa was set on fire at 0300 hrs by UNP supporter Chaminda.

SABARAGAMUWA PROVINCE

Ratnapura District
Nivithigala Road at 2200 hrs on Tuesday 04 December 2001
PA candidate Premalal Jayasekers's brother-in-law W.Piyasena was killed allegedly by UNP supporters. Another person was injured and has been admitted to the Nivithigala hospital for treatment. Police have arrested two persons from Homagama in connection with the killing.

Pagalovita at 2145 hrs on Tuesday 04 December 2001
UNPer Ranjit Soysa killed.

NORTH CENTRAL PROVINCE: ANURADHADAPURA DISTRICT

Kalawewa Polling Division
Polling Centres Pahalathalawa Vidyalaya Polloing Centre no 44, Nabadawewa Vidyalaya No 43, Ihalabulnewa Vidyalaya Polling Centre no 53, Karagahawewa Vidyalaya Polling Centre no 45, Navahaguranketha Viharaya Polling Centre no 46, Hirigollegama Vidyalaya Polling Centre No 47, Mudunegama Vidyalaya, Polling Centre no 26, Eriyagama Vidyalaya Polling Centre no 25 - at 0725 hrs today 05 December 2001.

Supporters of PA Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake are alleged to have prevented polling agents from entering these polling centres. It is alleged that opposition polling agents have been chased away.

Mihintale Polling Division
Polling Centre No 20, Muriyakadawala Maithrividyalaya at 1030 hrs.
Occupants of a convoy of vehicles including PA candidate Shantha Premaratne threatened to throw a bomb at the vehicle of CMEV International Observer Andrew Macleod. He has made a complaint (CIB 264/35) to the Kekirawa Police.

NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE: KURUNEGALA DISTRICT

CMEV learns that as of today 5 December 2001 at 1100 hrs, Police Mobile Units have been stopped and an armed group has taken control of Wariyapola town.

Today 05 December UNP supporter has been killed in Mahakeliyawa, Thelahera.

03 Murders on Tuesday 04 December 2001 have been reported. They have all taken place in Bamunukotuwa, Wariyapola. It is alleged that UNP supporter R.M. Gunatileke and two others were killed and three others injured. The injured have been admitted to the Wariyapola Hospital.

Yesterday 04 December 2001 at 2200hrs, a PA supporter has been killed at Watarata, Mawathagama.

NORTH EAST: JAFFNA DISTRICT

CMEV learns that as at 0800 hrs today 05 December no ballot boxes had been received at the Kandaramudam Sivapragasam Vidyalaya, Polling Centres no 24 and 25 in the Nallur Polling Division.

CMEV learns that voters in the "uncleared areas" have been effectively disenfranchised following a decision by security authorities to close off access to clustered polling stations.

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