5 April 2010, Colombo, Sri
Lanka: CMEV has received confirmation of the first
election related murder and reports of the further intensification of
violence as the campaign draws to a close today, midnight. A tense
situation is reported from the Sinhala areas of the Digamadulla District
due to the competition between candidates for preference votes.
Tense situation reported in Ampra
CMEV field reports revealed that a tense situation prevails in Ampara
and Mahaoya areas due to a UPFA intra party clash between supporters of
UPFA candidates Sarath Weerasekara(candidate no 10) and Ferial
Ashrof(candidate no 01) on 04th April at around 11.00 am in
Ampara town. Saman Morayas, Vice Chairman of the Ampara Urban Council
and Wimal Weera Dissanayake, Eastern Province Minister of Education,
Cultural Affairs, Lands and Land Development and Transport were also
attacked in the incident.
CMEV learnt that protests against Sarath Weerasekara were organized
in Mahaoya town and Damana 04th Mile Post at around 12.00 pm
today. A protest was also held in Ampara town, yesterday, against him.
Reportedly the protests are backed by Wimal Weera Dissanayake.
According to the information from the field, posters which state
‘vote for a Sinhalee beyond party or colour’ in Sinhala have been
displayed in Sinhala areas.
In previous reports, CMEV also highlighted a Harthal in the Pottuvil
area on 03rd April against UPFA candidate A.L.M.Athaullah.
UPFA supporter shot dead in Kurunegala
CMEV learnt that R.D.Jeewan Prasanna Jayawardhana, a UPFA supporter,
was shot dead by an unknown group in Mawathagama at around 11.00 pm
yesterday.
CMEV learnt that the deceased was a supporter of UPFA candidate
R.D.Wimaladasa(candidate no 06).
When CMEV contacted Wimaladasa’s office, Chandalal Wijesooriya, a
driver who witnessed the murder, informed CMEV that while they were
returning from Kurunegala to Mawathagama in a double cab (NW PB 3968),
an unknown group in a double cab confronted them and opened fire towards
their vehicle. According to him, Jeewan was sitting in the back seat of
the cab. He further explained that when they reached the Kurunegala
Hospital Jeewan had died and that they had informed the Police at the
time of the incident.
Wimaldasa suspects that the attack was carried out by UNPers, since
he was informed that some UNP supporters had been searching for Kasun,
another supporter of his, prior to this attack.
When CMEV contacted the Mawathagama Police Station, a women Police
Officer informed CMEV that they had received an anonymous call regarding
the incident at around 11.45 pm. She further stated that investigations
are being carried out.
Dr.N.D.S.Rajamanthiri of Kurunegala General Hospital confirmed that
the person had died when he was brought to the hospital.
DNA supporters assaulted in Wattala
A group of DNA supporters who were pasting posters, were assaulted by
a group of supports of UPFA candidate for Gampaha District, Neil
Rupasinghe(candidate no 12) in Pattiyawala, Uswetakeiyawa at around
03.00 am on 03rd April.
CMEV Field Monitor visited the residence of M.N.C.Dias, a victim, and
recorded a statement from him. According to him, he and M.A.Ranjith
Kumara, another DNA supporter, were assaulted and Ranjith managed to
escape from the attack. Subsequently he was forcibly pulled into the
vehicle and brought to Neil Rupasinghe’s residence located in
Hendala,Wattala. He was ordered to kneel down and was assaulted by Neil
Rupasinghe’s supporters at his residence as well. He further explained
that he was dropped at the point where they snatched him.
He further stated that he saw the UPFA supporters waving to the
police officers when they passed the Police check -point located in
Wattala Shell Gas Junction. He expressed his disappointment with the
Police over their inactivity and stated that he would not complain to
the Police in this regard as he lacked trust in them.
When CMEV contacted the Wattala Police Station it was informed that
the Muthurajawela Police Post is in charge of deployment at the above
named check -point. When CMEV contacted the Muthurajawela Police Post,
PC Sanjeewa Kumara informed CMEV that on the particular day they did not
deploy any officers to the above post.
When CMEV contacted Neil Rupasinghe in this regard, he categorically
denied the allegations.
Intra party clash in Anuradhapura
CMEV learnt that a group of supporters of UPFA candidate Duminda
Dissanayake(candidate no 06) was assaulted by a group of supporters of
UPFA candidate S.M.Chandrasena(candidate no 11) near Eppawala Epologama
Rathgiriyagama Vidyalaya, Kekirawa at around 06 pm on 02nd April.
On 03rd April CMEV contacted Ajith Kumara, Coordinating
Secretary to Duminda Dissanayake. He informed CMEV that 08 supporters
were injured due to the attack and admitted to the Anurdhapura General
Hospital. He alleged that the perpetrators ordered them to kneel down
and threatened them with firearms.
When CMEV contacted R.M.R.Somaratne, Coordinating Secretary to
S.M.Chandrasena, he denied the allegations and stated that supporters of
Duminda Dissanyake assaulted them and that five of them sustained
injuries in the attack and were subsequently admitted to the
Anuradhapura General Hospital.
CMEV contacted the Kekirawa Police Station. A Police Sergeant told
CMEV that they received a 119 call regarding the incident and on the
basis of that information further investigations are being carried out
On contacting the Anuradhapura Hospital, CMEV learnt that 10 people
who were injured in the attack were admitted to the hospital.