With reports continuing to come in from the field, CMEV has recorded a total of 91 incidents of election related violence and malpractice on polling day, today 10th of July 2004. Of this figure, 43 of the incidents include a case of ballot stuffing, cases of voter impersonation (04), cases of attempted voter impersonation (15), an intimidatory presence in the vicinity of the polling centre (03) and polling card related incidents (03). A sample of the incidents is provided below.

CMEV will issue a comprehensive report on the election in all six provinces; once more reports from its monitors in the field are recorded.

WESTERN PROVINCE

Gampaha District

Katana
UNF Polling Agent for Raddolugama Community Hall (51),M Athula complained to the Seeduwa Police that at around 0630 hrs, while he was on his way to the polling centre, he was abducted allegedly by a group of unknown UPFA supporters. Though he was later released by the group, the UNF polling agent claims that the abductors forcibly removed his polling card, national ID card and voter list and did not return these documents to him.

CENTRAL PROVINCE

Kandy District

Nawalapitiya
Paragala Sinhala Junior School (10) – CMEV Mobile Team reported that supporters of UPFA Deputy Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage were forcibly collecting polling cards in the vicinity of the polling center and also threatening voters.

Sri Dharmarathana Vidyalaya (46) – CMEV Mobile Team reported that a group of around 200 UPFA supporters were involved in removing indelible ink from their fingers and in possession of polling cards.

Mr Sunil Gunasekera, Coordinating Secretary to Mr Nihal Gunasekera, UNF candidate, Kandy District alleges that at Weligampola Junior School (50), 02 UNF Polling Agents were assaulted and chased away by supporters of UPFA Deputy Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

In a letter to DIG Navaratne of the Police Elections Secretariat dated today 10th July 2004, the General Secretary of the UNP Mr Milroy Perera alleges that at the Inguru Oya Junior School (48) & Warakawa Junior School (36), UNF Polling Agents were chased away by supporters of UPFA Deputy Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and that no known UNF supporters were allowed to cast their vote. CMEV spoke to Mr Aluthgamage who rejected all allegations as UNF propaganda. Mr Aluthgamage further maintained that polling in Nawalapitiya was calm and peaceful.

Nuwara Eliya District

Walapone
Rathnayakapura Vidyalaya (55) – CMEV Mobile Team reports that supporters of UPFA candidate SB Rathnayake (08) were observed within the vicinity of the Polling center.

NORTH CENTRAL PROVINCE

Anuradhapura District

Anuradhapura East
DS Senanayake Vidyalaya, Hall No.02 (27) –– voter arrested for attempted impersonation.

Kalawewa
Vijithapura Muslim Maha Vidyalaya (72) –– clash between SLMC and UPFA supporters outside the Polling Centre. Kekirawa police had shot in the air in order to control the situation. Eleven (11) UPFA supporters have also been arrested at the centre for attempted impersonation according to the police.

Kekirawa
Supporters of UNF candidate Keerthisinghe Wijerathne (23) opened fire on a group of UPFA supporters at Thibbatuweva retaliating against the UPFA supporters throwing stones at the candidate’s vehicles (WPGL 7000, WPHT 7441, WPHN 7812 and 56-6890). Six UPFA supporters have been warded at the Anuradhapura and Kekirawa hospitals with injuries. UNF candidate Wijerathne was also present when the shooting took place. Eleven persons including candidate Wijerathne have been arrested by the Kekirawa Police.

Polonnaruwa District

Minneriya
Shantha Kahawalage, UNF candidate, Polonnaruwa District, alleges that at Yatiyalpathana Kanishta Vidyalaya (48) no known UNF supporters were allowed to cast their votes as a consequence of UPFA threat and intimidation.

SOUTHERN PROVINCE

Matara District

Hakmana
CMEV Monitors report that at Denagama MV, Polling center no.09- 60 votes were stuffed allegedly by Bandula Amarathunga , UNF candidate (05) and a group of his supporters, before being chased away by the police.

Weligama
CMEV Monitors report that at Bandarawattha Community Hall (01), UNF candidates Mayurapala Ediriweera (10) and Amaraweera Wicrama Gunawardana Jinadasa (06) intimidated voters outside the polling center. Eleven (11) votes were cast illegally by unknown individuals.

UVA PROVINCE

Monaragala District

Wellawaya
CMEV Mobile Team reported that a Katharagama Pradeshiya Sabha vehicle (number UPGC 0957) was used to transport voters to Katharagama Janadhipathi Madhya Maha Vidyalaya (35) Polling Centre.

CMEV Mobile Team reports that at Detagamunuwa Junior School (37) a group of 20 supporters of UNF candidate Asoka Wickramasinghe (06), threatened voters.

SABARAGAMUWA PROVINCE

Kegalle District

Aranayaka
CMEV Monitors report that at Ambalakanda Kanishta Vidyalaya (40), supporters of UPFA candidate Lalith Dassanayake (18) congregated in the vicinity of the polling center. Several vehicles bearing the formers’ propaganda posters were parked nearby.

Ratnapura District

Rakwana
A shootout took place at 0045hrs between UPFA candidate Ranjith De Soyza (19) and UNF candidate Jagath Kumara Palliyaguru (07) in front of Jagath Palliyaguru’s residence in Godakawela. Ranjith De Soyza’s vehicle was damaged during this incident. A complaint has been filed by Ranjith De Soyza (19) (EIB 74/1). Later at 0245hrs, a communication centre belonging to Jagath Kumara Palliyaguru (07) was set on fire (EIB 79/6).

In another incident, H N Sujith Thushara, a UPFA supporter was arrested for the possession of a handgun by the Godakawela Police. The arrest took place when the Police searched a group of UPFA supporters who were behaving in an aggressive manner in the Godakawela town in front of the Mahinda Maha Pirivena Polling Center (24) at around 0920hrs.

Conclusion

CMEV notes that these provincial council elections have recorded the lowest figure for voter turn out in recent memory. The campaign too elicited a low level of interest and public participation. CMEV believes that low voter turn out is attributable to a number of factors, primarily the holding of a general election close to and before the provincial contests, as well as voter apathy and disappointment with the performance of political parties. In this context, CMEV notes that these elections recorded a lower voter turn out figure than the Wayamba Provincial Council election (24 April 2004) which followed close on the heels of the 2 April 2004 General Election.

Extensive and enthusiastic exercise of the franchise has been the bedrock of Sri Lanka’s democracy. It has demonstrated the public’s faith and confidence in the electoral process as well as popular support for political parties. The trend identified in the April 2004 General Election of a low level of violence and malpractice has been sustained in these elections. CMEV welcomes this. However, we hope that the low level of voter turn out does not indicate a new and disturbing trend of deepening public apathy, disinterest and disappointment with the institutions and processes in Sri Lanka that are necessary for the functioning of democracy. We appeal to political parties in particular and to civil society groups, to ensure that this is not the case.

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