Election Violence On The

Rise
By Nirmala Kannangara- Sunday, December 07, 2014

More election
violence and violations are reported from all parts of the country where the ruling
UPFA government is accused for all the reported cases say election monitors.
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon
and Peoples Action for
Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL)
Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchchi said that it is disheartening to see how the
ruling party violates election rules even before nominations are filed.
Nominations will be filed tomorrow but other than one candidate all others have
abided by the election regulation of the country. When the ruling party that talks so
much about law and order is violating these rules openly what can we expect from the
others? We informed this to the Elections Commissioner and although he has
instructed the parties concerned to abide by the regulations, nothing has happened up
to now, Keerthi Tennakoon said.
Meanwhile Tennakoon accused Prof. SJBA Jayasekara, Vice Chancellor of the
Wayamba University, for forcing university lectures to take part in an election
propaganda meeting that was held on December one at Temple Trees.
It was shocking to learn that an employee, appointed by Prof. Jayasekera, wanted all

lecturers to confirm their participation at the meeting. Those who did not take part have
been asked to submit an explanation. Even Samurdhi beneficiaries, who are among
the most underprivileged segments in the country, were not pressurised in this manner
to attend meetings, Tennakoon said.
According to Tennakoon, he has brought this to the notice of University Grants
Commission (UGC) Chairperson Prof Kshanika Hirimburegama on November 28.

I informed this to the Elections Commissioner and he

has written to Prof Hirimburegama on November 29 asking Hirimburegama to inform
him whether such a meeting was organised when it was organised whether before or
after the election was declared and whether Prof Hirimburegama was unaware that
this was a hindrance to a free and fair election, said Tennakoon.
In another letter to Prof Jayasekara, the EC on November 30 (Ref No:
PRE/2015/19/ALLD 4) has stated that his behaviour is adversely affecting a free and
fair election and for him to inform the EC whether he attempted to influence lecturers
to attend the meeting.
However neither Hirimburegama nor Jayasekara have responded to the
commissioner. CaFFE is deeply dismayed about this lack of concern displayed by two
heads of prestigious institutes of higher education. We believe that he should have
responded immediately to the Commissioner of Elections, as the chief election official
in the country and we urge all government servants, elected representatives and
political parties to respect his directives, Tennakoon said.
When contacted Prof Hirimburegama, refuted the allegations levelled against Prof
Jayasekera.
He is one of the few most honourable and unbiased professors working for us. When
I asked him about this allegation he said he took name and identity card numbers of
those who wished to take part in this annual progress meeting. Since there were about
8,000 participants we had no other place to accommodate them but decided to hold it

at Temple Trees. The President was the Chief Guest and the meeting lasted for about
two hours and the issues faced by the universities were discussed, Prof.
Hirimburegama said.
According to her, non academics participated at this meeting. Prof Jayasekera is a
mild academic who will not raise his voice to any one and we should hail him for
developing the Wayamba University to what it is now, Prof. Hirimburegama added.
However, Senior Lecturer and President Federation of University Teachers
Association (FUTA) Dr. Chandraguptha Thenuwara said that the government
remembers the University Teachers only during election times.
Even in 2010 a similar progress meeting was held at Temple Trees but there after
they forgot us. Now again they met the university teachers. Those who took part at this
meeting said how the progress meeting took place with election related speeches and
films have been shown how bombs exploded and how the war was won, said Dr.
Thenuwara.
Meanwhile the election monitors accused Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzamil. Election
Commissioner has written to Mayor A. J. M. Muzammil, on November 30 (Ref No:
PRE/2015/19/COL2) asking him to provide information about the display of over 1800
illegal election cut-outs in Colombo city limits. In his letter, the Commissioner has
requested the Mayor to update him under what leasing conditions that these cut-outs
have been allowed to be displayed and if the CMC has charged any fee from these
cut-outs.
He has also asked Muzammil to remove all the election cut-outs immediately if they
are displayed without any fee and to take action against officials who permitted the cut
outs in the city limits.
CaFFE is deeply dismayed about this lack of concern displayed by the Mayor, who is
a working committee member of the UNP. The UNP who speaks greatly of
transparency and good governance should act in a more proactive way to curb
election law violation and rule of law, said Tennakoon. Meanwhile Executive Director,
PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi said that more election violence has been reported
from Puttalama. Wennappuwa UPFA local councilor Shiron Fernando who crossedover to support common opposition candidate, was assaulted on December one at his
residence at Bolewatte, Wennappuwa . Fernando has lodged a complaint at
Wennappuwa police and the suspect has been identified but the police are yet to
arrest the suspect. It was a senior ministers supporter who has assaulted Fernando
as he went to Polonnaruwa in support of the common candidates inaugural election
meeting, said Hettiarachchi.
Meanwhile Coordinating Secretary of the Chief Minister of the North Central Province
and some goons has attacked Anuradhapura District UNP local government member
Namal Diyalagoda and his supporters while they were decorating a stage to welcome
the UNP Leader on Nevember 29. One person from Tahmbuththegama has received
injuries and was admitted to Anuradhapura hospital. This group has also destroyed cut
outs and banners which was at the UNP office in Anuradhapura.

Although Namal Diyalagoda has lodged a complaint at the Tambuththegama police

furnishing details of the group who assaulted them and destroyed UNP banners and
cut outs, the police are yet to arrest the suspects, Hettiarachchi said.
SLTB buses are used to transport people to election meetings
Ceylon Transport Workers Union
Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) deports in the country are compelled to
release buses free of charge to transport people from the respective areas to
meetings says JVP affiliated Ceylon Transport Workers Union.
The sources who did not wish to reveal his name said when inquired as to
why buses are taken without making any payment, the deport managers say
that these buses are released for government work but not for election work.
He however said that in the next few days, the people could see how SLTB
buses are used to transport people for election meetings and added that the
reason for SLTB to incur losses is due to hiring buses for election work free
of charge.
Even during UNP governments they have taken few buses for their election
work but not the way the UPFA is using SLTB buses for their election work.
Although the deport managers say that payments would be made, never
have they made any payment to the SLTB. Although we have informed this
to the Elections Commissioner on previous occasions nothing has been
done to prevent it, he added.
More than Rs.100 million worth of election propaganda advertisements
telecast over Rupavahini free of chargeSri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation sources.
Reliable Rupavahini sources said that the institution which has become a UPFA
property is losing millions of rupees daily as ruling party propaganda advertisements
are telecast free of charge.
Even on previous occasions Rupavahini telecasted UPFA advertisements,
they have not paid a cent to the corporation. This has become a UPFA
property now, sources alleged.
Airport and Aviation Service hires labourers from Hambantota
Airport and Aviation Services sources
Airport and Aviation Services inside sources told The
Sunday Leaderthat over two hundred people have been hired as labourers
to the Airport and Aviations Services (AAS) from the time election was
announced.
The appointment letters have been back dated and all are from

Hambantota. We will be informing this to the EC this week and want to

cancel these appointments. If the government could cancel the
appointments given at Health Ministry during Minister Maithripala Sirisenas
tenure claiming they are illegal why the EC cannot cancel these
appointments as well, sources added.
Posted by Thavam