The United Nations says that the recent incidents of pre-election violence in Sri Lanka makes Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s call to the Government to ensure that the presidential polls are peaceful and inclusive, that much more important.

“Obviously, we’ve seen the recent events in Sri Lanka, even those today, and I think it makes the Secretary General’s call for reconciliation, political dialogue that much more important and also his call to the Government to ensure that the elections are peaceful and that they’re inclusive, including for minorities,” Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, told a daily press briefing on Monday.

The comments were made in response to a question posed regarding the increasing reports of shots being fired and rocks thrown at opposition gatherings in the run-up to the election.

Ban Ki-moon last week conveyed his “strong expectation” that the Government of Sri Lanka will ensure “the peaceful and credible conduct” of its upcoming Presidential election.

In a phone call with G.L. Peiris, Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs, Mr. Ban reaffirmed the UN’s continuous support for reconciliation, political dialogue and accountability as the country heads towards the election on 8 January 2015.

Sri Lanka’s ruling party, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), however harshly criticized and expressed its strong “resentment” towards the remarks by the UN Secretary-General and event termed it “wrongful interference”.