Presidential Candidate of the United Socialist Party (USP), Siritunga Jayasuriya, today appealed to the Elections Commissioner to take immediate steps to effectively disarm all security personnel provided to parliamentarians and prohibit private security escorts for politicians.

“There is also no necessity in parliamentarians and politicians being accompanied by armed security guards during election campaigns,” he said in a statement.

“Some in the government are even accused of having their own private security men carrying arms. This armed security has to be completely withdrawn to ensure a free and fair election.”

“This is an election to elect a candidate of people’s choice and that needs no arms and goons,” he said.

Jayasuriya also appealed to the people to organise themselves into vigilante election committees to safeguard their polling booths and resist all efforts to deny the people their right to a free and fair election.

Election monitoring organisations say over 300 cases of actual violations of law have been reported thus far and in most cases, fire arms and armed goons have been involved, he said.

“This violent trend is now on the rise, with more defections from the Rajapaksa camp cementing the defeat of President Rajapaksa and his campaign leaders trying to stem the tide with violence.”

“President Rajapaksa cannot say he does not know his campaign is being turned into a Wayamba type violent election carnival,” he said.