Archives

A number of polls-related incidents were reported from some parts of the country, although voting was generally peaceful.

Our Anuradhapura correspondents reported that Anuradhapura District PA Provincial Councillor Sarath Wickremesinghe who had been abducted by a UNP goon squad yesterday afternoon around 2.00 pm and kept incommunicado at the residence of a former UNP parliamentarian of Anuradhapura West, has been found by Police.Two people who had received gun shot injuries in a shooting incident in Veyangoda were admitted to the Colombo National hospital yesterday. " They are out of danger." Deputy Director of the National Hospital Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

Police said a number of incidents has been reported from several areas of the Kandy district yesterday." Most of the cases were reported from areas such as Wattegama, Pannila, Kundasale, Ududumbara and Pathadumbara," an official attached to the Police Election Secretariate said.

He said Police had sealed one ballot box at a polling booth in Katugastota and brought it to the Police station after a gang had attempted to stuff ballot boxes.

In the Puttalam district, two houses belonging to two rival party supporters in Surakkulama, Anamaduwa have been set on fire. It is reported that violence in this area increased after the house of a PA supporter was set on fire. A UNPers house has been burnt later. Both houses have been completely destroyed.

Several incidents of rigging and intimidation were reported from Wennappuwa and Madampe. In Minuwangoda, an armed gang had assaulted a Police Constable on duty at a polling booth and snatched his weapon.

Another person who attempted to repeat this act in Veyangoda was shot by Police. He was admitted to the Wathupitiwala hospital.

At Alayapandawa, after a heated argument between PA and UNP supporters shots had been fired and a UNP supporter Anil Ranasinghe was injured. Police believe that Provincial Councillor Sarath Wickremesinghe had been abducted during this altercation.

After he was found by Police, Sarath Wickremesinghe was admitted to hospital.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager