Loudspeaker wires severed ahead of Matara rally, claims Opposition
Friday, 5 December 2014 00:25
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Maithripala Sirisena holds campaign event in Matara town
Election fever hit the southern town of Matara yesterday, as common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena addressed his first campaign event in the area.
Cut-outs and election propaganda for the two main candidates in the presidential race vied for space in the coastal city, while the main Opposition United National Party alleged that police personnel had attempted to disrupt the rally by severing the wires to loudspeakers stationed around the Uyanwatte grounds.
“Senior police officers are being stationed around Matara town. They see the crowds coming to Opposition rallies and they are getting scared,” UNP Communications Director Mangala Samaraweera told the crowd.
A heavy police presence was noted around the town in anticipation of yesterday’s Opposition campaign event.
Large cut-outs of President Mahinda Rajapaksa hung on the same lampposts as posters featuring his former health minister turned presidential challenger ahead of the rally.
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya, former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka and others attended the campaign event yesterday. (DB)
