UNP says Elections Commissioner unable to ensure free, fair election

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 April 2010, 09:26 GMT]
Sri Lankan Opposition UNP on Wednesday said that the Sri Lankan Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake was unable to ensure a free and fair general election under the existing system as he has no control over the police and state media.

General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayake quoted Dayanada Dissanayake as saying that the police and the state media are two most vital institutions whose independence is crucial for a free and fair general election.

The UNP, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and Democratic National Alliance (DNA), had a discussion with the Sri Lankan election commissioner on the sudden increase of election related violence at the tail end of the election campaign.