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Tamils need not worry-Pillayan |
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2012-09-26 |
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Former Chief Minister of the Eastern Province Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan said the Tamils in the East should not be worried about their future as he would be playing a leading role in the development of that area since he had been appointed as the Presidential Advisor on Eastern development.Addressing a press conference in Colombo, he said there wouldn’t be any issue with the Muslim Chief Minister or with the SLMC as all three communities could work together in the East under present circumstances. He said this was practical as there were members representing all three communities in the provincial council.He also said that it should be determined whether there are constitutional provisions to implement the demand made by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) for the rotation of Chief Ministerial post in the Eastern Province.
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Sanjeewa Bandara released |
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2012-09-25 |
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Convener of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Sanjeewa Bandara has been released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate a short while ago. Meanwhile, the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), which is conducting investigations into the incident, had requested the Magistrate to release the suspect on three main conditions including that of restricting all students’ protest to Colombo’s Hyde Park Corner. The Magistrate rejected the request saying he has no authority to issue such an order on this matter. |
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Police short staffed in East – SLMC |
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2012-09-04 |
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There is a shortage of police officers to protect the law and order situation in the Eastern province, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) claims. General Secretary of the SLMC, Hassan Ali, said there have been several incidents reported from the Eastern Province where police officers, once informed, have delayed in arriving at the location. “Once, when we complained to the police regarding an incident where one of our party candidates’ houses being attacked, they took several hours to respond to the complaint. When inquired as to what caused the delay, the police said they do not have enough officers to immediately respond to all the complaints,” he said. Ali also said the lack of police officers has become a serious issue in the province where clashes between and within political parties have increased due to the upcoming election. |
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CaFFE reports increasing violence against SLMC in Akkaraipattu |
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2012-09-03 |
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An increase in election violence against the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) at Akkaraipattu, in the Ampara District has been reported by the Campaign for Free and Fair Election (CaFFE). CaFFE’s Executive Director Kirthi Tennekoon said that during the last four days polls related incidents had increased and a complaint had been lodged with the Elections Commissioner against the Akkairapattu police. He said under the existing circumstances, it was doubtful whether a free and fair election could be held in Akkaraipattu as the people had lost faith in the police, especially as the Senior DIG for Ampara had been moved out of the area. Most of the incidents in Akkaraipattu were due to the rivalry between the SLMC and Minister Athaullah. A teacher’s residence was attacked in Akkaraipattu. The SLMC district office also at Akkaraipattu came under attack. An SLMC meeting was disrupted and a group of 15 masked men were seen pasting posters in front of its office. |
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SLMC – National Congress battle heats Akkaraipattu |
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2012-09-02 |
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SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem has expressed reservation on a free fair election for the Eastern Provincial Council in the context of conflicts between supporters of his party’s candidates and those of the National Congress of Mr. A.M. Athaullah. Both Hakeem and Athaullah are ministers of the UPFA government of which their parties are constituents. On Friday, two SLMC MPs, General Secretary M.T. Hassen Ali and H.M.M. Harees with over 100 supporters performed satyagraha for over two hours outside Akkaraipattu police station calling for action against those they alleged were responsible for election related incidents. Hassen Ali said that they dispersed following an assurance by a senior police officer that necessary action would be taken.He said they had identified the attackers and named them in their complaint lodged with the Akkaraipattu police, but only one person had been arrested so far. He alleged that a senior police officer of the Ampara district was pressurizing junior officers to release this suspect.  |
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JVP office destroyed, 5 SLMC offices attacked |
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2012-08-30 |
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A JVP propaganda office was destroyed while five Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) offices had come under attack on Tuesday (28), a polls monitor said.
The JVP office was situated at Niyadurupola on the Warakapola-Karawanella Road in the Dedigama electorate. The five SLMC offices in the Ampara District.
Dr. Uditha Gunasekera of the Network for Election Monitoring and Intellectuals for Human Rights (NEMIHR) said that election related incidents were increasing with the campaign for the Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-Central Provincial Councils hotting up. The elections are scheduled for September 8.
Several incidents pertaining to the postal voting on Tuesday (28) have been reported. A UPFA candidate threatened voters at the Civil Defence Force (CDF) camp at Bakthiella. A vehicle (HK 8876) belonging to a UPFA candidate had been seen displaying his photograph and posters at the Forest Conservation Department office, according to Dr. Gunasekera.
The NEMIHR reported that buses belonging to the CTB deports in Kalmunai, Kalawanchikudi, Ampara, Batticaloa, Bibile, Mahiyanganaya, Siyabalanduwa and Akkaraipattu were being on Sunday (26) to transport people to a UPFA meeting in Ampara. CDF personnel had been forced to attend the meet, the polls monitoring outfit said.
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Kapilacvastu Relics for election campaign |
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2012-08-28 |
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NEM – IHR states it has received a written complain that Kapilavastu relics, taken to Jayanthi Viharaya in Anuradhapura on 24.08.2012 by the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, is being used for election propaganda of the UPFA. The complaint has been made by the JVP candidate for North – Central PC elections Wasanthe Samarasinghe. He has sent copies of this letter to the Commissioner of Elections, CaFFE, People’s Action for free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) as well.
The complaint by Mr. Wasanthe Samarasinghe states leaflets with the photograph, name, preference number and election symbol of former chief minister for North - Central PC Berty Premalal Dissanayake are being distributed among devotees who come to worship the relics and NEM – IHR has asked the Asst. Election Commissioner at Anuradhapura to take steps to stop the illegal act.
NEM – IHR in its letter states making use of religious ceremonies held with the patronage of the state for illegal propaganda programmes is deplorable. |
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SLMC candidate’s vehicle set fire |
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2012-08-22 |
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A van belongs to SLMC candidate Ms. L.P.Rupika Chandani has set fire last night (21st of August 2012) around 11.30 pm. Ms. Rupika Chandani is the only Sinhalees candidate, who contest for the election under SLMC. Election campaigns, which revolve around ethinicity is explicated in the Eastern Province. Many violence incidents based on ethnicity have been reported from the Eastern Province during the election. It can be said this incident is the most significant incident that has reported from the Trincomalee District. Although, since the nomination day 14 incidents have reported from Trincomalee district, they are mainly illegal propaganda activities and misuse of public property. Further, a few party election offices came under attack in Kantale area, and one intimidation incident also reported on the nomination day from Trincomalee. Otherthan those incidents no significant violence reported from the district. |
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EROS office attacked |
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2012-08-21 |
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The Batticaloa party office of the Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS), has come under attack in the early hours of Sunday (19). Batticaloa Police sources said an investigation has been launched to locate an unidentified group suspected to be involved in the attack, subsequent to a complaint lodged by EROS Leader, R. Prabhakaran at the Batticaloa Police Station a short while after the incident. The party office, located near the Batticaloa Municipal Council was attacked by an unidentified group yesterday around 1:30 a.m. According to police, the attackers had caused severe damage to the party office and had also attempted to set fire to the van belonging to the EROS leader. However, only a side of the van had caught fire as Prabhakaran’s family members had suddenly arrived at the scene causing the attackers to flee.
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SLMC candidate’s house attacked |
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2012-08-16 |
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The house of a Sri Lanka Muslim Congress candidate contesting in the Batticaloa district has been attacked by unidentified persons
“The house of Aliyar Nasheer in Eravur came under attack in the early hours of Tuesday and it has been reported to the Elections Commissioner,” Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Deputy President Hafeez Nazir Ahamed said.
Eravur police refused to record the complaint saying no election complaint would be accepted without of the approval of ASP, Ahamed said
Later the complaint was lodged with the approval of Batticaloa district ASP, he said |
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