Legal action against election law violators, campaign relatively peaceful

(PAFFREL), said it had received 389 complaints of election law violations. These included 28 acts of election violence, 74 violations relating to the abuse of state power, resources and the misuse of state employees and 287 incidents of other forms of election law violations.

“The most recent assault case that we got to know of was reported from Peradeniya. Here a supporter of the Democratic Party is alleged to have been brutally assaulted by a group of UPFA supporters,” PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said.

He said PAFFREL had also received reports of nine other assault cases, of which seven had been confirmed.

“In comparison with the past elections, the present scenario is fairly ok. Thus far we have had no reports of any killings and only six have been hospitalised so far,” Mr. Hettiarachchi said.

He said PAFFREL was focusing its attention on the Kandy, Badulla and Ratnapura districts because of several incidents there, though not on a large scale.

He expressed concern over reports of voters being bribed.

“Some 1,000 job opportunities have been provided on a provincial and national level. We’ve also had reports of 45 cases where bribes have been given to supporters. The Elections Commissioner should take steps to check this situation,” he said.

He said the people also had a responsibility to choose well and choose wisely.

“We are electing members to Parliament, which is the supreme law making authority of the country. The people whom we elect should have a proper education and experience. The people need to keep this in mind and not give into bribes,” Mr. Hettiarachchi added.

Election watchdog Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) has recorded 521 complaints to date. These include 23 incidents of violence and 498 cases of election law violations.

CaFFE said the Colombo, Hambantota and Kurunegala Districts had the highest levels of election violations.

CaFFe Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon, however, said the quick intervention of the police and the Elections Commissioner had ensured that the situation was under some form of control.

He said the complaints received for this election were comparatively lower than those received during previous elections.