Presidential Election 2015

Summary of incidents since 20th November received by CMEV on 4th January 2015 by 3.30 pm. Download as a PDF here.

Download this update as a PDF here. On 4th January 2015 at 1.00 pm: 02nd January, Common Candidate Maithripala’s rally was attacked- Pelmadulla It was reported to CMEV that a public meeting conducted by Common Presidential Candidate Maithripala Sirisena near Pelmadulla depot came under attack at about 7.20pm (2ndJan). As soon as the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councilor Manjula Dias Wikramanayake’s speech was concluded, assailants aimed stones at Mr Sirisena, who was soon ushered away by his security officers. Pelmadulla Electorate Organizer H.D.D Senavirathne was injured and later admitted to the Pelmadulla Base Hospital. When CMEV spoke to Ratnapura Senior Superintendent of Police, Palitha Fernando, he said that he received a verbal complaint about this incident from the United National Party (UNP) headquarters “Sirikotha” operations unit. Officer-in-Charge L.P.K. Rajamanthri in Kahawatta Police Station stated that the situation was now under control and that two suspects have been arrested. Investigations are underway. The incident has been confirmed by Rathnapura District Election Operation Unit officer in charge K.T.M.P.D Thilakaratne. He also said that he was following up on the incident with the Kahawatta Police Station. Pelmadulla Base Hospital Medical officer in charge Dr. Waruna Sampath confirmed that Mr Senaviratne had been admitted to Hospital and that he had sustained minor injuries to the head. Army and Navy attempt to obtain details of polling centres from Assistant Election Commissioner, Mullaitivu Assistant Election Commissioner of Mullaitivu Mr R Saslaian reported to CMEV that he was requested to provide details of the polling centres of the Mullaitivu electorate, specifically the number of voters per polling station. According to Mr Saslaian two persons from the Navy approached him on January 1st requesting the above information. Mr Saslaian refused this request on the basis that he is not authorised to disclose it. Mr Saslaian informed the officers that if they wish to get this information they would have to obtain a letter of authorisation from the Election Commissioner. On January 2nd the same individuals had arrived at the Department of Elections, Mullativu and repeated the request, having identified themselves as being from the Nandikadal Navy Camp. Mr Saslaian had denied the request for the second time. On January 3rd an unidentified individual telephoned Mr Saslaian and requested the same information. Subsequently two Army officers approached Mr Saslaian and stated that Major Mendis had sent them to obtain the said details. Mr Saslaian denied this request, too. According to Mr Saslaian, the individuals had stated that the information requested was required for security purposes. He further stated that the information had already been made available to the Police, and that the Army and the Navy are not entitled to receive it unless the Election Commissioner grants written permission. CMEV states that it is incongruous for the Army and Navy to request for information for “security purposes”. There has been no public statement by any of the officials involved that the Army and Navy have been requested to support the Police to provide security on Election Day. 1st January attack on UNP office in Beliatta – Hambantota An attack on United National Party (UNP) Beliatta electorate organizer W.B.Wimal Jayasiri’s house at about 6.45pm yesterday (01st), was reported to CMEV. According to Mr. Jayasiri, a group of six people arrived in motorcycles while he was at a meeting with three (03) UNP supporters at the above location. Four (04) armed individuals with T56s fired shots into the sky, removed campaign decorations in the vicinity, entered the house and damaged furniture, destroyed important documents and assaulted his wife A.M.P Priyanka, whose forehead was injured as a result. Four motorcycles parked in their residence were also damaged. According to Mr.Jayasiri, they had threatened him and his family saying “Meh dewana wathawata kiyanne umbalata aye kiyanena. Umbala okkomala maranawa, 8 wenidata kohomath maranawa itakalin marun noka hitapan.” Furthermore he reported to CMEV that another complaint was previously made to the Beliatta Police Station about a similar assault and threat (on December 29th) on him (CIB (2) 347/446).CMEV contacted Beliatta Police officer in charge Mr. Wijerathne who confirmed that a complaint was filed about the previous incident. He added that two suspects were arrested in connection with the incident and that further investigations are underway. He directed any further inquiries about the incident to the Police media spokesman and refused to give the complaint number. CMEV spoke to Hambantota District election operation unit who confirmed the receipt of the complaint on 01st January at about 8.30pm, and added that they visited the location at about 9.00pm. Mr. Jayasiri’s wife identified the persons to be ‘Karambakatiye Hichchi Malli’ and ‘Dammulle Gedara Sudda’. She also says that they were the same two people involved in the assault on the 29th. 3rd January attack and assault on postman in Badulla CMEV received a report of an assault in Badulla where a postman named Periyasami Gnanasekaram who was on duty in the Newburg area was attacked by a group of unidentified people who arrived in three vans. They had accused him of not attending meetings by United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Uva PC Minister Senthil Thondaman and beaten him, stolen valuable documents and personal belongings such as phone and his gold necklace. In the Police Complaint filed at the Ella Police Station (222/5) Mr. Gnanasekaram, says that 35 voting cards were stolen along with Rs 40,000. According to P.G. Gunawati, Post Master of Ella Post Office, the victim Periyasami was hospitalised. 3rd January, Clash between Puttalam UC Chairman K.A. Bais, his supporters and members of Puttalam Public Awareness Forum. A dispute between members of the Puttalam Public Awareness Forum (PPAF) and supporters of Urban Council Chairman K.A. Bais around noon on 3rd January was reported to CMEV. Police had called both parties to settle the dispute on January 3rd and the clash had occurred when both had left the Police. PPFA members had been attacked but no serious injury is reported. This second incident was also filed as a complaint by both parties EIB /1/15 and EIB / 2/ 15.This

Summary of incidents since 20th November received by CMEV on 03rd January 2015 by 4.30pm. Download it as a PDF in Tamil, Sinhala and English here.

Summary of incidents since 20th November received by CMEV on 01st January 2015 by 3.30 pm. Download as PDF in Sinhala, Tamil and English here.

On 31st December 2014 at 10.00 pm: Electioneering under the guise of distributing rice for flood victims in Paddiruppu -Batticaloa CMEV monitor in Batticaloa, Mr. KirubanandaSivam, informed CMEV of a meeting in Rasamanikkam Hall, Paddiruppu, Batticaloaat around 11am on 31st December where Deputy Minister of Resettlement VinayagamoorthyMuralitharan had distributed rice to families who were displaced by the floods. Mr. Sivamwho was present at this meeting says that around 60 families who were affected by the heavy rains were offered rice. At the meeting which lasted for about an hour, Minister Muralitharan had emphasised that the rice was distributed under the guidelines of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and had requested the recipients to cast their votes for President Rajapaksa. 31st December, UPFA procession conducted by Nil Balakaya in Matara An election procession in support of President Mahinda Rajapaksa took place near the United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) party office near Nupe Junction in Matara. According to the CMEV monitor in Matara, Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa, Deputy Minister of Postal Services Sanath Jayasuriya and many UPFA local government representatives along with about 1500 people had taken part in this procession which started at about 9 15 a.m. Individuals in Nil Balakaya T shirts were shouting the phrase ‘EdatthadathMahindamai. Janapaththithumata Jaya Wewa!’. The processionwhich had caused much congestion in the area and had ended in a meeting at the Sanath Jayasuriya Ground in Matara. The Election Complaints Section at the Matara Police informed CMEV that it was not a rally but a canvasing walk where people distributed leaflets.CMEV was unable to reach the Officer in Charge. CMEV also spoke to the Matara Urban Council Opposition Leader Upul Nishantha who said a large number of people had been transported in SLTB buses and that the procession had caused much congestion. Images taken by the CMEV monitor indicate buses from Hakmana, Galle, Ambalangoda and Alpitiya. Alpitiya Depot Operation Assistant A.G. Suranga said that thirty to forty buses are sometimes assigned to transport people and that seven buses were used for this specific procession. He further said that no payment was made for them. However, he refused to mention who gave permission for the seven buses to be released. CMEV was informed by the SLTB head office in Narahenpitiya that that no buses were released for this particular procession and that thebuses are only released when a payment is made.