CMEV has received a total of 102 reports of election related violence on polling day, by the time of the close of polls at 1600hrs. A sample of the incidents is provided below. On the basis of the reports received CMEV confirms that Polling Day in the General Election of April 2004 was considerably and qualitatively less violent than the December 2001 General election. CMEV’s concerns with regard to the election in the North and East, highlighted in our Interim Report of 31st March 2004, remain. CMEV will issue a fuller report on the election in the North and East once more reports from its monitors in the field are received.

KURUNEGALA DISTRICT

Galgamuwa
No 05. Pothanegama Wijeya Junior School, threat and intimidation of UPFA supporters by UNF supporters.
No 36, 37, 57 Buduruwakanda Maha Vidyalaya, Mahagal Kadawala Mahasen Junior School, Maha Ambogama Junior School, voters assaulted by UNF, UPFA polling agents of 36 & 37 were chased out allegedly by UNF Indika Bandaranayake’s supporters.

Katugampola
No 11 & 12, Nedalagamuwa Sri Rahula Maha Vidyalaya, voter assaulted by UNF.

Mawathagama
No 18, 19, 21 Mawathagama Central College Hall No 1,2,3 and No, 06 and 07 of Paragahadeniya Muslim Central College Hall No 1 & 2, voters intimidated and assaulted allegedly by UNF candidate Johnston Fernando's supporters, Fire Arms sighted.

No 30, Preaching Hall at Galapitamulla, Sri Bodhi Rajarama Viharaya, (aka Udhanagama Polling Centre) JHU voters assaulted, access to polling station blocked allegedly by supporters of UNF candidate Johnston Fernando.

No 24, 25 Pothubowa Maha Vidyalaya, UPFA voters prevented from reaching polling station, threat and intimidation.

Wariyapola
No 12, Malagane Maha Vidyalaya, 2 voters assaulted allegedly by UNF supporters and polling cards snatched.



PUTTALAM DISTRICT

Anamaduwa
No 30, Anamaduwa Central College, threat and intimidation of voters allegedly by supporters of UNF candidate Mr. Palitha Ranga Bandara.

No 3, Boyagoda Primary School, UNF supporters assaulted UPFA supporters.

Chilaw
No 12, Welipelassa Government Primary School, voters chased out by UNF supporters.

ANURADHAPURA DISTRICT

Kalawewa
No 67, Mawathegama Vidyalaya, Kalankuttiya, UNF candidate Sunil Dissanayake’s supporters have allegedly assaulted 2 voters.

DIGAMADULLA DISTRICT

Sammanthurai
No 32, 33 Sennal Gramam Zahira Vidyalaya, threat, intimidation and assault of voters , polling cards snatched allegedly by SLMC National List candidate Anwar Ismail’s supporters including his bodyguards. The candidate was allegedly present at the incident.

No 28 and 29, Kallarachchal Muslim Vidyalaya, UPFA supporter assaulted and hurt by SLMC supporters.

No 38, Al Arapa Vidyalaya, SLMC supporters attacked by UPFA supporters.

Pottuvil
Mohamed Muhajireen and Mohamed Ibrahim Hussian, candidates of Independent Group 19, were injured and admitted to Ampara hospital, when their vehicles were attacked allegedly by a group of SLMC supporters in the Akkraipattu Police Division. A police complaint has been made and the hospital confirmed the injuries to CMEV.

Kalmunai
No 29, Al Azar Vidyalaya, Kalmunaikudi, polling agent belonging to Independent Group 22 was assaulted allegedly by a group of Ferial Ashraf’s supporters inside the polling station. The victim has been admitted to the Ashraf Memorial Hospital.

VAVUNIYA DISTRICT

Vavuniya
Systematic impersonation and distribution of polling cards observed by CMEV monitors at clustered polling booths, Omanthai.

TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT

Seruwila
No 36 and 37, Railway Superintendent’s Rest. Kanthalai , UNF candidate Sunil Shantha Ranaweera’s younger brother Sarath Ranaweera, allegedly intimidating voters.

NUWARA ELIYA DISTRICT

Hanguranketa
No 35, Pussalamankada Viharaya, polling cards snatched allegedly by UPFA candidate Jayantha Dissanayake and his bodyguard.

No 34, Diyatilake Maha Vidayalaya, UNF supporters assaulted allegedly by supporters of UPFA candidate Jayantha Dissanayake and his bodyguard.

KANDY DISTRICT

Nawalapitya
Mr. Weerasinghe, secretary to Mr. Mahindanada Aluthgamage has complained that UPFA polling agents of No 53, Nawalapitya Girls School has been assaulted by supporters of UNF candidate Krishnath Karunarathne’s sister, who is the Mayor of Nawalapitya Municipal Council. When contacted by CMEV both the alleged perpetrator and the police have denied that such an incident has taken place.

MATARA DISTRICT

Kamburupitiya
No 26, Kirinda Muslim Kanista Vidyalaya, UPFA polling agent Mr. Akram chased away.

HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT

Beliatta
Supporter of Sajith Premadasa, UNF candidate for Hambantota, Mr. Kalum Manawaduwa, was assaulted by a group of unidentified persons. Mr. Manawaduwa’s vehicle was forced off the road by 2 vehicles without number plates. The vehicle was damaged and the perpetrators fired shots into the air before assaulting the victim. This incident has taken place near No 44, Public Service Centre for Pottery Industry, Madegoda, polling center. Beliatta police confirmed the incident, but were unable to corroborate the firing of shots.

UPFA supporters have threatened Mr. Salaman Wimalagune Kodituwakku by shooting in the air. Mr. Kodituwakku’s daughter is the UNF polling agent at No 47, Devvimana Sheela Meditation Centre, and polling station.

Tangalle
Supporters belonging to UPFA were assaulted allegedly by a group of Mahinda Wijesekera’s supporters, with one victim Mr Dadalage Chandrasiri sustaining grievous injury. He received treatment at the Matara General Hospital. The perpetrators have come in three Jeeps and three three wheelers. They had used swords in the attack. The Dikwella police have refused to accept a compliant on this incident. According to the Police, no such incident occurred.

MONARAGALA DISTRICT

A grenade was thrown at the house of UNF candidate Mr. W.M Ratnasiri Bandara in the early hours of this morning, damaging his house. No one was injured. The UNF accuses the UPFA of being responsible for the incident.

RATNAPURA DISTRICT

Palmadulla
No 24, Dharmaloka Vidyalaya Palmadulla, systematic impersonation by UPFA.

COLOMBO DISTRICT

Kotte
No 06, Obeysekerapura Community Centre, Arunodaya Mawatha, UNF Polling Agent not present, intimidation by UPFA supporters, small scale impersonation.

Dehiwala – Mt Lavinia
No 23, 24, 25, Dehiwala Madya Maha Vidyalaya, around 25 persons including 4 monks allegedly of the JHU involved in systematic impersonation observed by CMEV monitor.

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