CMEV has recorded a cumulative total of 321 incidents of election related violence since nominations were called for (17 February 2004) in the April 2004 General Election. Of these Incidents 127 have been categorized as Major Incidents, including Murder (02), Attempted Murder (03), Hurt (36), Grievous Hurt (02), Assault (66), Threat and Intimidation (16), Robbery (01) and Arson (01). Twenty eight (28) of these Incidents recorded involved the use of firearms. Major Incidents account for 39.6% of all incidents. Whilst this is lower than the comparable figure in the 2001 General Election campaign (51.4%), it does nevertheless indicate a disturbing trend in the level of violence as the campaign gains momentum.

CMEV has recorded two complaints against UNP candidate and former minister Johnston Fernando and his supporters. The two incidents took place in the Mawathagama Polling Division, Kurunegala District on 05 March 2004.

In the first incident, Mr B. Kumara Keerthi Chandrasiri of the PA alleges that when he went to hand in his nomination for the Wayamba Provincial Council election some 40 supporters of Mr Johnston Fernando blocked the road outside Mr Fernando’s house, attacked his supporters and damaged one of their vehicles (Mazda – 58-2022). The damage is estimated at Rs 25,000/=. Mr Keerthi Chandrasiri further alleges that Mr Johnston Fernando and two UNP candidates in the forthcoming Wayamba provincial election, Messrs K.B. Ratnayake and Alexander Fernando, arrived at the scene and encouraged the attackers before calling on them to stop the Assault.

CMEV was unsuccessful in trying to contact Mr Johnston Fernando on three occasions. His secretary Indika Basnayake denied involvement in the Incident on his behalf and told CMEV that Mr Johnston Fernando was at the opening ceremony of the party office of another UNP candidate in the Provincial Council Election, Ms Kumari Ekanayake, at the time of the Incident. Messrs Ratnayake and Alexander Fernando also deny any involvement in the Incident.

In another allegation against Messrs Johnston Fernando, Alexander Fernando, K.B. Ratnayake as well as Manju and Susantha from Ulpathagama, Galgamuwa, Mr Keerthi Chandrasiri states that following the handing over of his nomination papers, at 1400 hrs on the same day, he and his supporters were attacked by these named persons and 10 of their vehicles damaged.

CMEV spoke to SI Ranaweera of the Galgamuwa Police Station who told CMEV that a vehicle (Town Ace -58-9968) was damaged. CMEV learnt from the Galgamuwa Hospital that two PA supporters Messrs P.M. Konara and A.M. Jayathilake Bandara were admitted to the Accident Ward on 05 March 2004 and discharged two days later on 07 March 2004.

Complaints in respect of both incidents have been made to the Police. They are recorded as EIB 55/12 at the Kurunegala Police Station and EIB 72/20 at the Galgamuwa police station, respectively.

In an Incident of Assault in the Jaffna District, Mr S.Pathmanathan, candidate of the Independent Group 1 led by Mr Anandasangaree of the TULF, alleges that he and a supporter Mr Wijeratnam were assaulted by two Jaffna University students when they were distributing leaflets at the Aalady Junction. He further claims that his election material was burnt by the students and that they had threatened him earlier on 06 March 2004 and demanded that he stop his campaign. Mr Pathmanathan further told CMEV that when he tried to make a complaint to the Jaffna Police, Chief Inspector M.A.K.D.S.S. Seneviratne refused to entertain the complaint and chased him away. He further stated that it was only after Mr Anandasangaree spoke to Chief Inspector Seneviratne that he was able to lodge a complaint about the Incident. Chief Inspector Seneviratne had sent a Police Officer to Mr Pathmanathan’s office for this purpose. CMEV was unable to speak to Chief Inspector Seneviratne.

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