Opposition fears election fraud

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 July 2000, 11:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka's main opposition party charged Friday that the government is preparing to rig the Parliamentary elections expected to be held in October and November this year. Addressing a press conference this morning, United National Party's general secretary Gamini Athukorala said that polling cards printed at the government press have been taken out for rigging and forgery.

He pointed out that polling cards are sent to the voters only after the date of the election is fixed and announced by the Commissioner of Elections.

That the cards are already available shows the government is bent on forging them and defrauding the elections Mr.Athukorala said.

This is why the UNP is planning to invite a large number of observers and monitors for the Parliamentary elections according to the UNP's general secretary.