TNA supporters injured in Digamadulla

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 March 2004, 12:45 GMT]
Four supporters of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) candidates, A. ChandraNehru and K.Pathmanathan who are competing in Digamadulla (Amparai) district, were injured in an altercation Saturday night around 11pm near Thambilulvil Kalaimahal Vidiyalayam, sources said.

The injured have been admitted to the Akkaraipattu district hospital. The injuries are not life-threatening, hostpital sources said.

Sources said that the incident occured while the supporters were engaged in campaigning for preferential votes for their candidates.

ChandraNehru is the TNA's lead candidate for the Digamadulla district.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Australian Tamil Broadcasting Corporation (ATBC) radio, Senior Vice President of TULF, and lead TNA candidate for Batticaloa district, Joseph Pararajasingham said that in his election campaign he is asking the voters to cast one preferential vote for him. He wants the voters to cast the other two preferential votes for TNA candidates who have shown consistency in supporting Tamil Nationalism.

Mr.Pararajasingham added that the preferential voting system can create divisions within one party if candidates begin selfish campaign asking for voters to cast all preferential votes for the same candidate.

Mr.Pararajasingam also confimed that he cannot support regionalism and that he is not under pressure by renegade commander Karuna to limit his campaign to issues related to Batticaloa district only.