UNP urges polls chief to act against SJB politico’s threat to attack party supporters

It was another meeting which National Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya summoned this week to discuss matters related to the March 25 parliamentary election with secretaries of political parties.

“I hope you are taking serious note of our request,” intoned former Parliamentarian Ashu Marasinghe, who together with General Secretary

Akila Viraj Kariyawasam represented the United National Party (UNP). “No, I don’t know. What is the serious matter?” queried Mr Deshapriya.

Mr Marasinghe was to reply that a former MP (earlier from his own party) had threatened to attack voters if they were from the UNP. “Give us a decision now,” he pleaded. The Polls Chief said that he had not seen the written complaint which the duo had handed over to the Chairman’s office. “I will look into the matter,” he replied.

The reference had allegedly been made at a rally in Bandaragama by a former MP now supporting Sajith Premadasa.

Both Mr. Kariyawasam and Mr. Marasinghe were sandwiched between M. A. Sumanthiran and Basil Rajapaksa. Seated thereafter were Samagi Jana Balavegaya General

Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Ajith Perera.

At a previous meeting, the duo handed in a letter to Chairman Deshapriya. That letter on behalf of the UNP was to request the Election Commission to allow their representatives to monitor to the department’s computer network that would compile election results. It was promptly turned down by Chairman Deshapriya.