Ranil says independent Elections Commission vital before northern polls

 State terror being unleashed against political opponents in the north means that an independent elections commission must be established before provincial council elections are held in the Northern Province, says Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Addressing a group of party activists in Kalkudah, Wickremesinghe said that the Government had unleashed State terror on a TNA meeting while he was on a tour of the Jaffna District in February this year.

The UNP said that on both occasions although the perpetrators of the violence had been found to be connected to the security forces, no further action was taken against the suspects after they were taken into Police custody.

Wickremesinghe said the fact that these persons were being released by the Government without being prosecuted indicated there was a direct connection between the Government and these attacks, a media release from the UNP said.

Since the Government was trying to impede ordinary political activities in the north, there can be no confidence in the fact that a free and fair election will be held in that province, he said. An independence elections commission must mandatorily be set up prior to the polls, Wickremesinghe added.