No major incidents - PAFFREL

Mohammed NAALIR

COLOMBO: Except for certain violent incidents including a bomb attack carried out by the LTTE targeting innocent civilians on the eve of the election at a restaurant in Ampara, no major incidents took place in connection with the Eastern Provincial Council Election, People’s Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) Chairperson Kingsley Rodrigo said yesterday.

“After nearly two decades for the first time a free and fair election was held in the Eastern Province”.

He said nearly 60 per cent cast their votes to elect their representatives to the Eastern Provincial Council.

Addressing the media at the National Library and Documentation Services Board Auditorium, Rodrigo said there were a large number of rejected votes out of the votes cast. He said a ship was also was sunk beyond the Trincomalee sea area.

He said 83 complaints had been made to PAFFREL in connection with the election violence. Most had been made by UNP-SLMC combine. Nearly 25,000 police officers had been deployed along with the Armed Forces to ensure security of the candidates and voters.

Malaysia based National Institute for Electoral Integrity Chairperson Yunus Ali said Saturday’s election was the symbol of the restoration of peace and democracy in the Eastern Province after two decades. He said candidates without any fear was able to carry out their election propaganda campaign throughout the province.