Violence escalates: 347 complaints made by rival political parties
Wayamba police seize 15 vehicles minus number platesby Kalinga K. A. Weerakkody
Three hundred and forty seven incidents have been reported so far to the police from the North Western Province as the election campaign heats up in the region.The Police Election Secretariat said that the UNP activists had lodged 195 complaints while PA had made 114 entries. Besides the JVP has lodged 21 complaints and Nava Wamansika Peramuna two and the Muslim Congress three. There were also 11 complaints by independent group (1).
Propaganda Secretary of the JVP Wimal Weerawansa referring to the latest situation said, there was no reduction in the incidence of violence though they made official complaints last week to the IGP accusing the police of not taking action to end violence directed mainly at their party.
Among the recent incidents reported to the police in NWP was an attack on the election office of the UNP candidate Jony Fernando at Mawathagama. It is alleged that a PA gang had come and smashed up the office causing damage estimated at Rs. 140,000.
No casualties were reported.
New Left Front (NLT) chief ministerial candidate Patrick Fernando and its leader Wickremabahu Karunaratne were assaulted by unknown persons on Wednesday in Wariyapola.
In another incident, PA supporter Leslie Gunawardena was hospitalized after he and his son were assaulted in Mawathagama on Wednesday. He alleges that a group of about ten suspected UNP supporters has stoned his house.
The complaints included incidents of plundering of nearly 5000 polling cards, attempted murders, shooting, assaults, threats, acts of intimidation, incidents of mischief, cases of arson, election offences, cases of trespass, complaints of insults and thefts, robberies and house breaking.
Fifteen vehicles including Pajeros which had been operating in Wayamba for the polls campaign minus their registration number plates were taken into custody by police. Police are in the process of ascertaining the ownership of these vehicles.
Saturday Commentary
Violence in rhetoric and actionBy Prasad Gunewardene
Opposition political parties contesting the North Western Provincial poll, the UNP, JVP and the New Left Front have expressed grave concern about a free and fair election following the developments in the province during the past few days. Nearly five thousand postal votes were reported pilfered from post offices in Mundalama and Bangadeniya while candidates from all parties were reportedly assaulted by their opponents. Last Sunday, the New Left Front Chief Minister candidate Patrick Fernando in the company of Nava Sama Samaja Party leader Dr. Wickremebahu Karunaratne were reportedly assaulted by a gang of four carrying iron rods at Wariyapola.The incident occurred near a tea boutique when the duo after campaigning stopped there to tea around 10.30 pm on Sunday. While having tea they saw some men removing the posters in their vehicle. This followed a heated argument between the two parties and both Wickremebahu and Fernando were reportedly assaulted with iron rods. Wickremebahu sustained minor injuries on the head and was given OPD treatment while Fernando still lies in hospital in a critical condition. Dr. Wickremebahu claimed that they were set upon by thugs of the People's Alliance candidate contesting Wariyapola.
Police stations in the NWP have received nearly three hundred complaints from all political parties since the campaign began. The majority was reported from the United National Party. All parties have complained of intimidation, thuggery and disruption of campaign activities. In addition the postal sector in the province complained of pilfering of postal votes and have sought police protection to the post offices. Following the two incidents reported where postal votes were pilfered, the Deputy Inspector in Charge of the province has agreed to provide security to all post offices.
Opposition parties contesting the poll have informed the Elections Commissioner that a close monitoring system should be adopted with representatives of all political parties to accompany the ballot boxes to the respective counting stations after the voting was over. They had alleged that they had information that certain politicians in the area were planning to interfere with ballot boxes while they are being transferred to the counting centres. These parties have also urged the DIG in the province to provide tight security to the vehicles that transport the ballot boxes to the counting centres.
In this tense scenario that prevails in the NWP both President Chandrika Kumaratunga and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe are fully engaged in the election campaign. Mrs. Kumaratunga who in her previous speeches took on the UNP as a whole singled out the UNP leader in her attack at Wennappuwa this week. She said that court documents she showed that the UNP leader had engaged himself in intimidating SLFP organisers during the Mahara by-election in 1983.
President Kumaratunga told the gathering at Wennappuwa that there were no 'Mr. Cleans' in the UNP. It must be recalled that when Mrs. Kumaratunga was campaigning for the Presidential poll in 1994 with the UNP contender Gamini Dissanayake before the latter's death prior to the election, Mrs. Kumaratunga noted that there was only one 'Mr. Clean' in the UNP and that was Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe. By that time the PA government had already filed a case in court against Mr. Dissanayake for alleged corruption during the period Mr. Dissanayake was a minister in the UNP. A similar case was filed against another UNP MP Reginald Perera but the court acquitted Perera of all charges.
UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing a gathering at Mawathagama charged that he too was being intimidated by the government and added that two of his security men had been detained while he was proceeding to the venue of the meeting. He added that ballot papers were being pilfered and questioned how a free and fair election could be guaranteed under those circumstances. 'The government has so far not responded to my call to appoint a committee comprising of persons from all parties contesting the poll to ensure a free and fair election. Therefore it is a signal that the PA does not want a free and fair poll', added the UNP leader.
Meanwhile the United Lalith Front is in a major split with its leader Srimani Athulathmudali directing her acting General Secretary of the Party to suspend the membership of her Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake on Thursday. The majority of the Working Committee members of the ULF who support Karunanayake placed a full page advertisement in 'The Divaina' on Thursday with their photographs and signatures stating that they were now with the UNP according to decision made by the Working Committee chaired by Mrs. Athulathmudali on May 08, last year. The advertisement was led with photographs of the leading figures of the Working Committee.
The issue of going to the UNP was extensively debated between Karunanayake and Kesaralal Gunesekere during the live debate over 'Swarnavahini' on the 'Rathu Ira' (Red Line) programme on Wednesday night. Karunanayake reiterated that it was done with the consent of the party leader. Gunesekere in an emotional mood said that he would never join a party that killed his leader. Karunanayake challenged Gunesekere to prove his point and asked whether the SLFP distanced itself from the Maha Sangha just because Mr. Bandaranaike was allegedly shot by a monk. While Gunesekere argued that the party should stick with the PA, Karunanayake pointed out that when the party was given step motherly treatment and the government had failed to honour promises, the membership cannot go to an orphanage but return to the original home of its leader which has a new vision under a new leadership.
Mr. Gunesekere noted that Lalith Athulathmudali days before his death had said that he (Lalith ) would never return to the UNP. Mr. Karunanayake at this point recalled how Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga of the Mahajana Party with her hands held high before the coffin of her late husband pledged that she would never return to the SLFP and argued that Mrs. Kumaratunga not only returned but was made the Deputy leader of the SLFP which gave her the chance to be the President of the country today.
PA condemns attack on CM candidate
President orders immediate probeDeputy Minister of Posts Telecommunications and media spokesman of the PA for Wayamba elections Anura Priyadarshana Yapa states in a press release the PA vehemently condemns the attack on Patrick Fernando, the North Western chief ministerial candidate of the Nawa Vamansika Peramuna and Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne on January 13 at Wariyapola by unknown persons. The President has ordered the police to take immediate action to inquire into the incident.
The statement adds - 'The attackers are said to have come in motorcycles with PA stickers pasted on the bikes wearing blue shirts and carrying blue flags. The President has urged that action be taken though they are PA supporters or indulged in this attack to bring disrepute to the PA'.
'The PA government which strives hard genuinely for a peaceful election strongly condemns this attack.
'In the past, state rulers and the ministers were involved in such thuggery and killings. By now the personal involvement by the then Education Minister, the present Opposition Leader in election malpractices and thuggery during the 1983 Mahara by-election is now subject to public discussion in the country. The PA government, which ended the political thuggery in 1994 after the 17-year rule of 'Bheeshanaya', would never allow the repetition of such an ugly scene. Rumours being spread now on an attempt to shoot at the Opposition Leader and a Member of Parliament. The UNP, which is desperate at the losing end of the forthcoming election in order to elude the situation, seems to be adapting to their usual 'Bheeshanaya'.
'It may be an immature attempt by the Opposition Leader who still has the connection with the leaders of the era of 'Bheeshanaya', which has the notorious history to remind us its cruelty.
'The PA, which is dedicated for a peaceful election strongly, condemns these acts. The needs of the hour are to obtain the support of all other political parties to achieve these peaceful objectives. It is time all peace loving people are getting united to protest against these rebellion acts for a free and fair election'.
UNP candidate's vehicle attacked : Nayake Thera injured
From our Gokarella Corr.
The Ven. Danthure Rathanasara Nayake Thera, Chief Incumbent of Sri Buddha Rakshitharamaya, Nembilikumbura sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the Gokarella District hospital when a mob attacked a vehicle belonging to UNP provincial candidate Anura Gopallawa in which the thero was travelling.UNPers allege the attackers are P.A. supporters. A complaint has been lodged with the Gokarella, police who are said to be investigating.
Extensive damage is reported to have been caused to the vehicle.
Hill caves in killing at least 51 Indian pilgrims
NEW DELHI, Jan 15 (Reuters) - At least 51 people were killed and more than 50 injured when part of a small hill collapsed in southern India during an annual Hindu pilgrimage, local news agencies and newspapers said on Friday.
The 60-foot (20 metre) hillock in the Western Ghats range partially collapsed late on Thursday as pilgrims flocked to watch a ritual lighting of lamps at the pilgrimage centre of Pamba near the shrine at Sabarimala, about 150 km (75 miles) from Trivandrum, capital of the state of Kerala.
A stampede broke out as the crowd swelled and people began to fall from the top of the hill, agencies said. The stampede caused part of the hill to cave in, burying many under the mound.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) said that the death toll was likely to go up as many of the injured were in serious condition.
House prosecutors open case against Clinton
WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - House of Representatives prosecutors opened their case against President Bill Clinton on Thursday, charging he repeatedly put himself above the law and betrayed his oath of office in trying to hide his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
Laying out their arguments in the first presidential impeachment trial since 1868, prosecutors told a jury of 100 senators that failure to remove Clinton from office for lying and obstructing justice would leave a cancer in society for generations.
'We are here today because President William Jefferson Clinton decided to put himself above the law not once, not twice, but repeatedly,' said Representative James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican who summarized the case against the president.
Ravi's lawyer seeks clarification from Srimani
A lawyer for Ravi Karunanayake MP and Vice President of United Lalith Front has written to the Lalith Front's leader Mrs. Sirimani Athulathmudali seeking a clarification of his client's position within the front in view of certain newspaper reports that state he has been suspended from membership.
The lawyer states that his client had been taken by surprise over what these news report said in view of the position. Mr. Karunanayake had so far not received any intimation with regard to such a suspension of his membership nor any explanation has been called from him.
The letter to Mrs. Athulathmudali states:
'My client wishes to note that it is very strange to see articles of this nature appearing in the newspapers soon after the Working Committee met and decided to call for explanation from you, regarding your conduct as party leader.
'In the circumstances, my client wishes to know, within 7 days from the date hereof whether these reports are factually correct. In the event these reports are factually correct my client wishes to know by whom and on what authority such a decision was made. My client further wishes to know the specific grounds on which such decision was based.'
One terrorist killed, two captured at Suriyawewa
From Our Polonnaruwa Corr:
One LTTE terrorist was gunned down and two others were captured at Suriyawewa in the Welikanda police area on Tuesday, evening, (13th) security sources said yesterday. The gang of LTTErs had been moving into the village as troops on surveillance opened fire, sources added.Security personnel are on continuous surveillance in many villages in the Welikanda police area to prevent probable infiltration of terrorists. In every hamlet, either police posts or military detachments have been established to guard the farmers, who had been settled under the Mahaveli Development project.
The magistrate inquiry into the death of the LTTE member was held before Mr. Priyantha Silva, Magistrate, Polonnaruwa, at the base hospital Polonnaruwa on Thursday morning, sources added.
The suspected LTTE cadres who were arrested by forces had been handed over to the Welikanda police for interrogation. Security forces believe that they had infiltrated into the hamlet to gather information about the movements of security personnel and about the village.
Suriyawewa is one of the Northern most farmer hamlets in the Mahaweli Zone B. Welikanda. This village is situated very close to Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Batticaloa district boundaries, sources added.
Welikanda police conducts further investigations.
Police arrest 36 fishermen for using prohibited nets
Our Galle Corr.
Ambalangoda police had arrested 36 fishermen in six boats with six prohibited nets used in fishing on Jan. 14th night.These fishermen were fishing using the nets prohibited for fishing by the government and were arrested by the police. A large amount of fish also had been taken into custody by the police.
The fishermen were fishing in Randombe in Ambalangoda at the time of their arrest.
A team led by HQI K. M. D. Prematilake is conducting further investigations. The fishermen were to be produced before the magistrate shortly.
Granville RodrigoPopular teledrama and film actor Granville Rodrigo died on Thursday night following a motor accident which occurred on the High Level Road opposite Dharmasoka Vidyalaya, Maharagama, on Sunday. He was 40 years and a father of three children. The funeral will take place tomorrow at Madampitiya public cemetery.
Advani calls to reinterpret BJP ideology
By Vinay Kumar
TEKANPUR (M.P.), Jan. 11 - The Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, has called for reinterpretation of the basic principles of the BJP ideology to conform with the changing circumstances.The principles of 'swadeshi' and cultural nationalism, he said, would continue to play a positive role in the country in the future also.
Elaborating on this, Mr. Advani said allegations of payoffs in the multi-crore rupee Bofors gun deal in today's circumstances would not have harmed Indira Gandhi but it had inflicted immense damage to the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi's political career.
'It was because Rajiv Gandhi had the image of an honest, transparent and upright person whereas Mrs. Gandhi had described corruption as a universal phenomenon,' he said.
The Home Minister was talking to a select group of presspersons who accompanied him on a day-long whirlwind visit to the Border Security Force (BSF) Academy at Tekanpur, near Gwalior, on Sunday.
On the discord between the party and the Government that had surfaced in the national executive session in Bangalore earlier this month, Mr. Advani said that there were differences in perception on some issues but added that the BJP-led Government was functioning smoothly. 'If there are differences in a party like ours these get reflected very soon and damage our image,' he added.
Child 'Premadasa' taken to Colombo
(From Cyril Wimalasurendre Kandy Staff Corr.)
The child from the village of Kottala in Hanguranketa who claimed himself to be an incarnation of the slain President Ranasinghe Premadasa was taken away by some unidentified men yesterday, police said.The child Nuwan Sampath Bandara Wijebahu was taken away from his home in a black 16 - BMW car and later transferred to a white luxury car at Hanguranketa.
The parents of the 23 months old child had accompanied him in the car, according to eye witnesses.
However, the police said that the father of the child told them that the child had been taken to Colombo.
No complaint however has been made to police, they said.
Rotary to embark on major fund raiser
The Rotary Club of Colombo, hopes to raise Rs. 1.5 million from a concert featuring two internationally acclaimed Indian artistes, Ustaad Zakir Hussain (Tabla) and Hari Prasad Chaurasia (Flute) who will perform at the BMICH on February 13th, a club press release said.
Rotary President Wickram Amalean, addressing a Press conference, said that this would be the Club's major fund raiser and that the monies raised would be utilised to fund 3 community projects Ð namely, the construction of 50 houses for the poor, equipping 50 poor schools with library facilities mainly for the teaching of English, and the installation and commissioning of a CAT Scan Machine at the Badulla Hospital.
According to Mr. Amalean the housing project would cost around US$ 100,000 and would be funded mainly by the Rotary Foundation headquarters in the USA, while the School's Library programme would cost around Rs. 2 million. The commissioning and installation of the CAT Scan machine which is a gift by the Japanese Rotary Club will be commissioned in February, however the freight costs, installation, commissioning and training costs which amount to Rs. 34 million would be borne by the Rotary Club under a 'matching fund' agreement.
The Rotary Club of Colombo was formed in 1929 and has been involved in a countless number of valuable projects. The rotary Club has been the catalyst in the formation of voluntary organisations such as the Cancer society, The Ceylon National Association for the prevention of Tuberculosis, The Sri Lanka anti Narcotics Association and Rehab Lanka. Other projects which have been carried out by the Club are Village Development, Model Housing Development, AIDS Prevention, Assistance for Leprosy Patients, Assisting the School for the Blind, And the Nationwide English Teaching Drive.
Amalean said that every year Rotary has a fund raising event for charity And this year it would be this concert. Both Zakir Hussain and Hari Prasad Chaurasia are world renowned performers who have won many accolades both in India and abroad.
Zakir Hussain has achieved distinction and recognition in the world of Indian Classical music, rarely achieved by an accompanist, both in India and abroad. The Indian government has conferred on him the title 'Padma Shri' in recognition of his achievements. In 1990 he was awarded the Indo-American award in recognition of his outstanding cultural contribution to relations between the United States and India. In 1991 he was presented with the 'Sangeet Natak Akademi' award by the President of India, making him one of the youngest musicians to receive this award from India's governing cultural institute.
The Rotary Club assures all music lovers of a treat and advises them to purchase their tickets early.
Head of Salvation Army due here
General Paul A. Rader, World Head of the Salvation Army will visit Sri Lanka from 22nd January 1999 to 2nd February 1999. This is his first visit to Sri Lanka and will be accompanied by his wife Mrs. Kay Rader. General Rader will address a meeting at Rambukkana on 23rd and will preach at the Salvation Army, William Booth Memorial Church, Slave Island on Sunday 24th January at 9.00 a.m. and will take part in a United Service at the Church of the Living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 in the evening organised by the National Christian Council. The General is due to pay a courtesy call on Her Excellency President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. General Rader is the first citizen from the USA to be elected to the highest office in the Salvation Army and the US Ambassador, Mr. Shaun Donnelley will host General and Mrs. Rader at a reception on 22nd January 1999. The General will preside over a Zonal Conference of Salvation Army leaders from South Asia prior to his departure.
President warns Ronnie not to make false allegations
Walter Nanayakkara reporting from Anamaduwa
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, addressing an election rally here warned UNP's Matara District MP Ronnie de Mel against making what she called, false allegations against her.She was addressing an election rally in the Anamaduwa Madya Maha Vidyalaya grounds in support of the People's Alliance candidates contesting the North-Western Provincial Council elections from the Puttalam District on Thursday 14.
President said Ronnie de Mel had alleged that she had acquired 13 plots of land belonging to the state and that he had been displaying some papers to prove his allegations.
She said 'I challenge Mr. de Mel to tell me where these lands are. I will take him to court if he goes on making such baseless allegations. I don't belong to that breed of politicians, who plundered public property.
'I have sacrificed my freedom and my children's freedom in order to safeguard the freedom of the people of the country. I belong to a family which scarificed its wealth to serve the people. The only leader in the whole world who brought in legislation to part with family property was my mother Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike'
'It was the cabinet of Ministers of the UNP government and their family members and cronies who fattened themselves from the most stinking privatisation programme of the UNP government. There was a Senior Minister in the UNP government who exerted his influence to obtain a major government owned fruit processing factory for his son-in-law. The government owned canning factory in Narahenpita with land worth Rs. 300,000 to Rs. 400,000 an acre was disposed of in the most shady manner. This is the way the UNP's so called clean and public spirited leaders shared among themselves public property under the privatisation programme' the President said.
'Not a single Minister in the UNP cabinet can call himself Mr. Clean. And they are coming before the people and asking for their votes to come into power again. To do what? she asked.
She said her government realised the people's dream of a peaceful society and justice and fair play. This was the dream of everybody who backed the People's Alliance led by her in 1994.
President Kumaratunga also referred to what she called 'funny statements made by Ranil at Wennappuwa.'
'Here is a leader who was in a cabinet which was responsible for all the abuses in the 1977-94 period. How funny it is to hear him telling from a public platform that it was his destiny to rescue the country from the ruin, to which it is heading'.
'I would have rather swallowed poison than facing the people and making such childish statements' she said.
'Ranil also had been bold enough to say that the People's Alliance government has done nothing for the country for the last four years. This is another false allegation' she said.
'The most significant thing perhaps throughout the country was the educational reforms introduced by my government. All the shortcomings in the country was due to shortcomings in the educational system, which has staggered unremedied for decades.
'In three years time you will see the wisdom of these educational reforms. They are designed to make men and women of all young people of the country. They will be equipped for the jobs that come up in the new millennium. Young men, will not have to use drugs to drown their despire. They don't have to commit suicide', the president said.
She said her government ended within 24 hours, the era of abductions and killings, increased salaries of 200,000 school teachers and also of public servants numbering another several thousands.
'This is only a fraction of the things we did during our four years in office. We have two more years to rule the country. When we come before the people next time, when we hold general election, we will be able to fulfil all our promises' she said.
The president said governments postpone elections through fear of losing power. 'This is sheer cowardice. We are not afraid to come before the people as our hands are clean and confident of the people's verdict,' she added.
The President asked the voters of Anamaduwa to back the government candidates from the Puttalam District and thus help the People's Alliance to gain victory at the NWPC elections.
Lakshman Jayakody, Minister of Buddha Sasana and Cultural and Religious Affairs said that a vehicle reported to be moving about without number plates, in fact had number plates. It was used by a candidate and they knew where it is kept. The front number plate was visible but the rear one was not visible due to a banner, he said.
He said the bombing of a hut in Kurunegala, in which narcotic drugs are sold was the work of rival drug dealers. The newspapers reported the incident as the bombing of a UNPer's hotel by PA supporters.
Mr. Jayakody said the UNP, knowing that their team was losing the NWPC, elections was using the media to build up a story to give the idea that their defeat was due to PA's violence.
He said the Puttalam District PA MP. D. M. Dassanayake who had been painted as a murderer and a thug was not guilty of any such thing. He has never murdered anybody nor has he maimed anybody or assaulted any body he said.
He said that J. R. Jayewardene freed Wijeweera and others who were serving a sentence imposed by the court which convicted them of the offences committed by them in the 1971 insurrection.
J. R. freed them to harass the SLFP. But when they resorted violence during the UNP regime they were harmed.
'That was not the policy of the SLFP or the People's Alliance, Mr. Jayakody said.
S. Sathasivam, (CWC - Nuwara Eliya District) said that a provincial council ruled by an opposition party cannot do much for the province. Provincial councils do not have large incomes and out of their incomes they can only pay their employees.
They depend on government funds for development. Naturally an opposition ruled provincial council does not get all the moneys they required from the government. So the best thing is to bring the PA into power in the NWPC and to get the work done he said.
Govt's rehousing of slum and shanty dwellers programme
Private sector willing to participate
The Sustainable townships Programme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development held a briefing for contractors and Real Estate developers recently on this proposals for re-housing of the slum and shanty dwellers in the Under-Served Settlements in the City of Colombo.It was held at the Information Centre of the Sustainable Tow-nships Programme D. R. Wijewardane Mawatha with the participation of about 30 leading companies in the Construction Ind-ustry, according to a press release of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Develo-pment.
The apartments for the rehousing of slum and shanty dwellers will be done in multi storied buildings with all facilities in lieu of their shanties. The Sustainable Townships Programme is ex-pected to ensure fin-ances for this programme from the local commercial banking sector.
The entire Wanathamulla area which comprise nearly 140 acres will be developed into a modern, fully functional, compact township to rehouse about 20,000 families who volunteer to join this programme. All the sitting members of the existing slum and shanty settlements in the proposed Wanathamulla Development area will also be given this rehousing option, said the Director of the Sustainable Townships Programme Dr. Krishan Deheragoda.
The developers were invited to offer their proposals for the construction of this beneficiary housing. The package desig-ned to ensure effective private sector partnership and participation, was expla-ined in detail to the developers by Dr. Deheragoda.
He further explained the functions of the Real Estate Exchange (Pvt.) Limited company, which has been specially established to carry out the commercial operations of this programme. This private sector company based method is expected to trigger off a process favourable for the construction industry as well as for the banking sector, in addition to the main objectives of bringing the slum and shanty dwellers into the main stream of city life, and making available more lands in the city for its development.
PA does not want a fair election says Ranil
By Jatila Wellaboda and Kanthimala Udagedara
UNP and opposition leader Ranil Wickr-emasinghe said that the President's failure to respond to his request to appoint an independent committee to monitor the Wayamba election, was a clear indication that the PA did not want a fair election. Mr. Wickremasinghe said so addressing a UNP election propaganda meeting at Mawath-agama on Wednesday.He said the UNP would not allow Chandrika Kuma-ratunga hit the voters and win the Wayamba elections. They would cause a situation for Chandrika to worship the voters and seek their pardon. The PA was under the impression it could win the elections by assaulting the voters and torching their offices. The outcome of the elections could not be changed by resorting to such violence. The UNP as well as other parties had decided to afford an opportunity to voters of the NWP to cast their votes according to their wishes amidst violence caused by the PA. That was considered to be a duty cast on the opposition parties.
Mr. Wickremas-inghe said while watching TV today people saw the Sri Lankan cricketers hitting the ball with their bat and Chandrika thrashing the voters with a club.
What is the meaning of this election? Why should the PA resort to such low acts?
He said Chandrika should realise that franchise was a cherished freedom of the people - a fundamental right they were entitled to. It wasn't her personal property. Today one heard of robbing poll cards: tomorrow one would hear of the same thing happening at Bangadeniya. 'Is this democracy? he asked.
Mr. Wickremasinghe complained that while he was on his way to this meeting at Mawathagama police detained two of his body guards provided to him by Police Headquarters. Their vehicle too was taken over. He was not concerned, whether he was provided security or not. He would attend to his work. He said it was perhaps the first time in the history of the country that Police detained bodyguards provided by police themselves to the leader of the Opposition - considered to be the alternative head of the state. He asked in which country such a thing would happen.
When Chandrika was contesting the Parliamentary election while being the Chief Minister of the Western Province, she asked for additional security. He as the Prime Minister at that time after discussing the matter with the then President Wijetunge obliged by providing commandos for her security. That was how they treated her.
Mr. Wickremasinghe said he would call for a report from the Inspector General of Police on the matter. He would not allow them to play such pranks. The OIC of the Police station concerned should know what he was doing. He should know whether to take instructions from the IGP or anybody else.
Let the President know that she could not stop him from proceeding with his election campaigning by resorting to such low acts which would be condemned by every right thinking man.
