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Army officer arrested for supporting Fonseka |
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2010-01-15 |
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The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) yesterday said that an army officer had been arrested on Wednesday (Jan 13) for influencing voters in support of Opposition presidential candidate General (retd) Sarath Fonseka. However, the army said that the officer had not been arrested but only questioned. The following is CMEV statement: According to UNP District Secretary for Polonnaruwa Mr. S. A. M. Wickramasinghe, Captain R. D. A. Ranaweera of the 8th Vijayabha Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army, Palali, was arrested yesterday at 4.30 p.m. by the Military Police (4th CCMP) for influencing voters in favour of General Sarath Fonseka. The arrest was made subsequent to 14 voters lodging complaints against the Captain, according to Mr. Wickramasinghe. Captain Ranaweera’s role in respect of the conduct of postal ballots is not clear. He has identified himself to CMEV as the certifying officer and then subsequently as an assistant to the certifying officer. (Read More) |
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Gen. Fonseka to restrict Ministers to policy making |
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2010-01-15 |
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Opposition common candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka who pledged to bring about drastic reforms in the state machinery yesterday said he would confine the Ministers to policy making and monitoring implementation while public servants would be allowed to work independently.
General Fonseka made this pledge when he met a large number of academic and non academic staff of universities including 15 senior lecturers at his office yesterday.
He said in many countries ministry secretaries and other members of the state sector worked independently without the intervention of ministers and this system should be introduced in Sri Lanka as well.
General Fonseka also pledged to depoliticize the entire education sector including universities so that issues faced in this sector could be resolved. He said some issues were complicated and should be resolved through discussions while other issues such as providing facilities could be solved through financial discipline. (Read More)
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MR READY TO CURB EXECUTIVE POWERS |
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2010-01-15 |
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa said more of the Tamil political parties were in support of him than those who supported his opponent -- opposition common candidate General Sarath Fonseka.
At a meeting with a group of English and Tamil newspaper journalists on Wednesday, the President said a majority of the Tamil parties were with him and would extend their support to him at the upcoming elections.
“Thondaman, Douglas Devananda, Pillayan and Sithadthan, they are all with me. Even certain persons in the TNA have told me in confidence that they support me but are with the TNA simply because they don’t want to divide the party,” the President said in response to a question raised by Daily Mirror Online. (Read More)
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UPFA, UNF OFFICES ATTACKED |
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2010-01-15 |
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A UPFA office at Indigaha in Panadura was destroyed by an unidentified gang in the early hours of yesterday. A supporter of the party Padmasiri Fernando (54) who sustained injuries in the incident was admitted to the Pandura Hospital. He said the individuals who destroyed the propaganda office assaulted him severely.
Meanwhile, an unidentified gang set fire to two UNF Propaganda offices at Gelanigama Junction and Rajagama in Bandaragama. The main telephone line near one of the offices was also damaged in the incident.
Panadura and Bandaragama police were conducting inquiries.
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Opposition parties want special measures to curb violence |
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2010-01-15 |
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The political parties supporting the candidature of Sarath Fonseka have decided to ask for special measures from the authorities concerned, to arrest what they termed a dangerous trend taking place, following the election violence that took place in the Polonnaruwa district.
S.K. Subasinghe MP (JVP) told a news conference yesterday that the brothers of a powerful minister representing Polonnaruwa were responsible for the violence.
He said that the UPFA had resorted to violence soon after the election was announced, and that the situation had reached an alarming level today.
“Several persons have sustained injuries. Plans have been made to carry out more attacks targeting our supporters. So we are now planning to ask for some effective measures to arrest this trend,” he said. (Read More)
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Polonnaruwa clash: 3 arrested |
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2010-01-15 |
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Three suspects have been arrested for allegedly damaging property including four vehicles and an election office of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the Polonnaruwa town, police media spokesman SSP I.M Karunaratne said.
The arrest took place following a tense situation that prevailed in the area on Wednesday when a clash erupted between ruling party supporters and supporters of opposition common presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka. Extra police teams were deployed in the area to bring the situation under control and maintain law and order.
The opposition supporters were engaged in a peace walk and were distributing hand bills in the area. However at that moment a vehicle convoy of Minister Maithripala Sirisena had passed the area. The clash had taken place afterwards. (Read More)
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opposition jointly opposed the killing |
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2010-01-15 |
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Political parties of the opposition jointly opposed the killing of Kusumawathi, a 65 year old mother from Kakunandura, Matara by supporters of UPFA presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse. The opposition political parties including UNF, JVP, SLFP (M) faction expressed their opposition to the killing of this mother of three at a press conference held at Solis Hall at Pitakotte yesterday (13th). The Leaders of the political parties stated that the murderous Rajapakse government should be driven away immediately. (Read More)
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Disabled soldiers march in support of Gen. Fonseka |
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2010-01-15 |
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Around 1,500 disabled soldiers of Kurunegala district gathered in Colombo today (Jan. 13) and held a march in support of common opposition's presidential candidate Gen. Sarth Fonseka.
They marched from Viharamaha Devi Park to Lipton Circus, where they staged a peaceful demonstration.
Shouting slogans for Gen. Fonseka and against president Mahinda Rajapaksa for around an hour, the protestors dispersed.
Meanwhile, a group of disabled soldiers began a journey from Matara to Colombo today in support of president Rajapaksa.
They claim that it was due to the president's guidance they were able to win the war and end terror. (Read More)
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Government condemns election violence and vows to take action against perpetrators |
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2010-01-15 |
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Sri Lanka government today said it strongly condemns the Wednesday's clash between the supporters of rival parties in Polonnaruwa that injured several people including a local BBC reporter. The Presidential Secretariat issuing a statement said the government will not tolerate any acts of violence against civilians, politicians, local and international observers and journalists in the current situation. "Action has already been taken to apprehend those responsible for this violence and the attack on the journalist, and make them face the full force of the law," the statement said. "The Government will not allow anything to undermine this historic election, the first since the end of a quarter of a century of organized terrorism in Sri Lanka – under which free and fair elections were regularly obstructed – and the people in all areas of the country now have the freedom to participate in the electoral process," it added. |
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withdrawal Starts |
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2010-01-15 |
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A presidential candidate Rev. Battaramulle Seelarathna thero announced his withdrawal from the Sri Lankan presidential race on Thursday in order to support the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa. Rev. Battaramulle Seelarathana, one of the 22 candidates in the Jan.26 poll told reporters that people must support Rajapaksa against the main challenger, former Army chief General Sarath Fonseka. "The president finished the war and liberated this country from terrorism so people need to appreciate it," Seelarathana said. He said he was withdrawing in support of Rajapaksa. Seelarathana came forward from his party, the Janasetha Peramuna or the Front for Public Welfare. |
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