A tense situation has been reported during the ballot held this morning to elect the Chairman of the Maskeliya Pradeshiya Sabha. 

Police officers had to intervene in order to control the situation, Ada Derana Reporter said. He said that riot police were called in as the situation continued to worsen with supporters of rival parties clashing outside the Pradeshiya Sabha premises. 

The violence broke out after supporters of Minister Palani Digambaram accused the CWC led by MP Arumugum Thondaman of forcible detaining and hiding a female UNP member of the Pradeshiya Sabha as she was absent during the vote. 

Due to the prevailing situation, heavy police security has been places in and around the Pradeshiya Sabha building. 

Meanwhile supporters of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) and the National Workers’ Union clashed in front of the Maskeliya Police Station after the ballot.

Stones were also thrown between the supporters from sides with police officers also being on the receiving end of those attacks. 

The inaugural session of the Maskeliya Pradeshiya Sabha, which was established newly though the delimitation for the 2018 Local Authorities Election, commenced this morning at 10.30am in the presence of the Central Province Local Government Commissioner. 

CWC’s Shenbagavalli was nominated to the position of Chairperson of the Pradeshiya Sabha backed by 8 members from the CWC and an Independent Group.  She was elected to the position  as no other names were nominated. 

Periyasami Pradeepan of the UPFA was nominated to the position of Deputy Chairman. 

The council was established amidst the uproar by the 6 members representing the United National Party (UNP). 

Of the 16 total seats in the Maskeliya Pradehsiya Sabha, the UNP and CWC both occupy 7 seats each while the SLPP and UPFA have one member each.