Shots fired at UNP member

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 December 1999, 08:13 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen fired at an opposition Provincial Council member's jeep at Sabugaskande, about 10 km. north of Colombo around 1 a.m. this morning police sources said.

Mr. U. Ariyabala, a United National Party (UNP) member of the Western Provincial Council, escaped unhurt. His driver has been admitted to hospital with gun shot injuries, the sources said.

Meanwhile the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said in a statement issued yesterday evening that it has received 749 incidents of violence related to the presidential election. The statement said 350 of them have been classified as "major" incidents.

Among the major incidents, 5 murders, 3 attempted murders, 79 acts of injuries, 166 reports of assault, 12 robberies and 11 acts of arson were reported the statement said.

Meanwhile a Sinhala nationalist party, People's United Front, said yesterday it will support the President Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, in the president election.

The leader of the party, Dinesh Gunewardene that it is President Kumaratunga, who has presented development projects, the country need.

He said PUF can not support Vasudeva Nanayakara as there is no chance for him to win the election, and that no one shall vote for the UNP and JVP.