UNP office attacked in Monaragala

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 00:41 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

First violence in the Uva Provincial Council elections observed by polls monitors before campaign officially kicks off

The first violence of the Uva Provincial Council poll was recorded in the Monaragala District, with the attack on a United National Party Office in Wellawaya, polls monitors said yesterday. The office of UNP Monaragala District Organiser Tissa Kuttiararchchi in Handapanagala, Wellawaya was attacked at about 4:30 a.m.yesterday, the polls monitors Campaign for Free and Fair Elections observed. Propaganda material and furniture at the office have been destroyed, CaFFE said. Monaragala Police and Elections officials in the district have been notified of the attack and investigations have commenced. Election Monitors urged the Police to take action against election-related violence. “Otherwise a culture of impunity may be created, encouraging candidates to be more violent,” CaFFE noted in a media release. (DB) UNP Badulla District MP Harin Fernando filed a petition yesterday against the Elections Commissioner for changing the redistribution of seats in the Uva Provincial Council. The Elections Commission has decided to reduce three seats of the Badulla District in the Uva Province and add them to Monaragala District. Here, Harin Fernando arriving at the Supreme Court with legal representatives – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara