Complaints of electoral malpractice

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 April 1999, 23:28 GMT]
The General Secretary of the UNP, Gamini Athukorale, said in a statement that his party had been adversely affected by electoral malpractice in some districts.

He said that electoral malpractice in Mahiangana in the Uva Province, Ankuranhatha in the Central Province, Kalawewa in the North-Central Province and Aranayake in the Sabragamuwa Province have affected the UNP.

The UNP General Secretary said in his statement that the UNP had lost several votes in these districts because other parties had prevented UNP party supporters from casting their votes. He further said that polling agents were chased away from some polling stations and that there was evidence of poll rigging.

Meanwhile Mr. S.Thondaman, the leader of the Ceylon Workers Congress and a Sri Lankan cabinet Minister said that unidentified men had taken away polling cards from workers in Key Kegale, Matale and Kandy.

The Chief Organiser of the CWC, Mr. Antony Muthu, has made a complaint with the Police.

In Bagirigahawela in the Moneragale district two persons were wounded in a shoot out near a polling station.