Nivithigala protest march clash
By Yohan Perera

The Campaign for Free and Fair Election (CAFE) yesterday praised the judiciary for releasing the JVPers who were arrested in connection with the Nivithigala incident.

The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) has recorded a total of 94 cases of pre-election violence for the period July 1st to August 12 out of a total of 138 complaints so far.  The district which recorded the most number of incidents was Anuradhapura with 46 while Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura and Kegalle each recorded 16 incidents.

For the second week running the Campaign for Free and Fare Elections (CaFFE) has witnessed an increase in election related violence in Anuradhapura and this has taken on a retaliatory nature.

The Provincial Council system was established to expand power sharing as a political ideology. 

CaFFE reports a total number of 105 confirmed incidents related to election violence. There has been a larger number of incidents reported then this number but we have not included it here without confirmation. If we look at a district based breakdown of these incidents Anuradhapura has recorded the highest amount of violence. The retaliatory nature of attacks between the main parties contesting the election suggest that there culture of impunity which operates within a collapse of law and order in connection to elections in this district. Similar confirmed incidents in the other districts indicate that there is also a parallel culture of impunity in relation to election related violence in the Polonaruwa, Rathnapura and Kegalle districts.  

By Ajithlal Shanthaudaya  (DN)
Five JVP supporters who were arrested during a clash that took place between two parties at a protest march in Nivithigala last Sunday were granted bail by Ratnapura Magistrate yesterday.

Sab. Chief Ministerial candidate slams gun toting cops in civvies at Nivitagala clash

by Shamindra Ferdinando (TI)

JVP activist Lalith Hettiarachchishot at Getaheththa, Eheliyagoda warded at the National Hospital.

The JVP yesterday warned that the deployment of armed police in civvies to curb clashes between political parties could aggravate a situation already bad.

By Yohan Perera  (DM)
The main parties contesting the Provincial Council elections are engaged in large scale violation of election laws, charged Campaign for Free and Fair Election (CaFFÉ) yesterday.