Over 200 election violations reported: PAFFREL

Over 200 cases of election violations have been reported from several parts of Sri Lanka and over 60 people have been arrested in such violations, local election observers said.

Out of the 219 complaints received so far, 17 cases of violence, 51 cases of abuse of state property and 28 cases of bribing voters have been reported, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said.

Executive Director of PAFFREL, Rohana Hettiarachchi told Xinhua that the highest number of “illegal propaganda” had been reported from the Kurunegala District in the north western province of the island nation and the highest number of violent incidents had been reported from the Badulla District in the Uva Province.

Kurunegala is the stronghold of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse where he will be contesting as a candidate from the opposition United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

Police spokesperson ASP Ruwan Gunasekara said the people who were arrested were involved in 46 election related incidents and investigations have been launched into all of them.

More than 60 political parties and over 100 independent groups will be contesting the parliamentary elections scheduled to be held on August 17 to elect a new 225-member Sri Lankan parliament.

The main battle for a majority in parliament will be between the current ruling United National Party (UNP) led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) which includes Mahinda Rajapakse. The opposition however is yet to name a prime ministerial candidate, the Xinhua reported.