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8th August 12:00 pm: The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) reports a low voter turn from Jaffna Municipal Council (MC) and Vavuniya Urban Council (UC) elections. As of 10 a.m. CMEV reports 6% from Jaffna and 12% from Vavuniya. CMEV had received 2 major incidents of assault and 2 minor incidents of election offences with regard to Jaffna MC and Vavuniya UC elections as of 11 a.m. Two incidents of assault had been reported from Puttalam (Jaffna MC) and Vavuniya.
SLMC candidate Assaulted in Vavuniya UC
An incident of assault was reported to CMEV at 7:30am close to Polling Station No. 1, at the V/Muslim Maha Vidyalaya, Pattanichichipuliyankulam (Hall No. 1). A.L.M Munawfar candidate for the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (preferential candidate No.2) reported that he had been assaulted after returning from the polling station and casting his vote. A.L.M Munawfar reported that he was confronted by Mr. Rishard Badurdeen (Minister of Resettlement & Leader of ACMC) who questioned Munawfar as to what he was doing in the area and subsequently slapped him. Mr. A.L.M Munawfar stated that he received no injuries. The incident was reported to CMEV by Mr. A.L.M Munawfar.
CMEV contacted Mr. Rishard Badurdeen regarding the above incident, and Mr. Badurdeen denied any involvement in the incident and the involvement of his supporters.
TNA supporter assaulted in Puttalam
An incident of assault of an ITAK supporter was reported to CMEV at 8:00am at (JMC 01) 4th Mile Post Camp. Mr. S.H.M Nasir, the driver of Mr. Mohammed Aleem Jamaldeen (preferential candidate No. 02) of the ITAK/TNA, was transporting the relations of the candidate by van bearing registration Plate No. 252-1167. The gang proceeded to damage the vehicle mentioned above. The gang responsible for the attack is alleged to be associated with Minister Rishard Badurdeen (Minister of Resettlement and Leader of the ACMC). Mr Nasir identified one of the gang members being M. Mujahir who is associated with the Minister. The gang travelling in a white pick-up truck stopped the above vehicle and assaulted the driver. Witnesses present at the incident did not see the number plate of the vehicle. Mr. S.H.M. Nasir has subsequently reported the incident to Puttalam Police (CIB 0290/57) and informed CMEV that an estimated 75,000/= of damages was caused to the vehicle. Puttalam police and T.M.W Jayasundera, Police Sergeant, confirmed to CMEV that they have received the complaint and further investigations are underway.
Propaganda during polling in Vavuniya
CMEV reports reveal incidents of continuous campaigning in Vavuniya by political parties during polling.
An incident of continuous campaigning was reported to CMEV’s mobile monitoring team at 8:30am within the vicinity of Kalaimagal Community Centre, Mannar Road, Vavuniya, Polling Station No. 4. A van bearing the registration plate number 57-9219 & trishaw bearing registration plate number QP -8564 were used to transport voters and paste propaganda posters. The CMEV mobile monitoring team stated that the UPFA betel leaf symbol was displayed on posters that were pasted on the vehicle.
When the CMEV mobile monitoring team drove by the V/Tamil Madya Maha Vidyalaya, (Hall No. 1), Vavuniya, Polling Station No. 10 at 7:25am, numerous election propaganda leaflets belonging to Mr. Ranganathan Pathmanathan (Preferential No. 05) of the UNP had been seen scattered in front of the polling station.