Drop in inter-party rivalry incidents - MENIKE

The number of incidents during the election campaign due to inter-party rivalry has considerably reduced at this election, the centre for Monitoring Free and Fair Elections and Democratic Rights (MENIKE) reported.

As a result of the Police strictly enforcing election law prohibiting election related processions, it has managed to minimize the fights between the supporters of main contesting parties, a MENIKE release said.

Main incidents reported so far are: murder - 1, attempted murder - 2, assaults - 40, arson - 35, abuse/threat/intimidation/insult/obstruction - 6, misuse of state resources - 10.

It is unfortunate that 26 years old UPFA supporter from Kurunegala had to sacrifice his life on the penultimate day of the election campaign due to political rivalry.

There will be 37 polling centres in Puttalam for 24,582 voters, 31 centres in Vanni for 15,817 voters, six in Gampaha for 567 voters, six centres in Anuradhapura for 2,048 voters, four centres in Jaffna for 408 voters, two in Kalutara for 150 voters, one centre in Colombo for 111 voters and another one in Batticaloa for nine voters. A total of 45,692 eligible voters will cast their vote at these polling centres, it said. Steps have already been taken to arrange the distribution of polling cards to these IDPs for the election.

The Elections Department said 88 polling centres will be set up in eight districts for IDPs to cast their vote at the General Election.

When the incidents reported during the present election campaign are considered in the light of the standards of the past Sri Lankan elections, MENIKE is of the view that such incidents will not have any adverse impact on the final outcome of the poll.