Incidents on Election Day up to 10 a.m.
Voting commenced at 7 a.m on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 for the Parliamentary General Election. CMEV is deploying 1,200 observers at polling centres, 175+ counting observers at counting centres, 90 field monitors and a team of 50 reporting, operations and mobile team operators at its Colombo HQ. Polling stations are operating under strict COVID-19 health precautions with health officials also being deployed.
A total of 70 incidents of election-related violations have been reported thus far, with illegal campaigning and illegal posers being the most prevalent. The scattering of chits bearing party symbols and candidate preference numbers is by far the most common election violation committed by candidates from a range of political parties all across the country
The following incidents are specific incidents received and confirmed by CMEV’s field monitors stationed at polling stations across the country:
- CMEV received reports that 60 All Ceylon Tamil Congress (AITC) supporters had arrived at Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) supporter J Kishanthan’s house in Kalmunai, Digamadulla district at 9 p.m. on Aug 4, assaulted several persons there & damaged property. Two persons have been hospitalised.
- CMEV received reports that a Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) supporter attacked and injured two ACMC supporters at Jamaldeen Square, Pottuvil in Digamadulla district at around 2.30 a.m. today. The victims have been hospitalised.
- CMEV received reports that two SLPP supporters were aggressively coaxing voters at the gates of the D.A Rajapaksa Maha Vidyalaya in Mulkirigala, influencing them to vote for the SLPP. They were seen accompanying voters into the polling station.
- CMEV received reports that supporters of Mahindananda Aluthgamage were verbally influencing voters to vote for the SLPP, at around 7.30 a.m. near the polling station at St. Mary’s College, Nawalapitiya.
- Voters registered at the Nedunthivu polling station in Kayts, Jaffna district were waiting at Kurikattuvan for the boat service to travel to the station on the other side since 8 a.m. CMEV has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission
Further information on the types, perpetrating parties and locations of the incidents CMEV has recorded is detailed in the charts below:
