Campaign restrictions introduced

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 December 1998, 23:42 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police said today that they would not grant permission either for campaign meetings to be held after 9 p.m. or the use of public address systems at any meetings that may be held ahead of the forthcoming elections for the north-western Provincial Council (NWPC).

The election date is January 25. The Police decisions were taken at a high level meeting held at the Puttalam Katchcheri yesterday said sources.

The police also said that the number of election-related violence are on the increase and that they have received at least 40 such complaints since the nominations closed on November 8.

The main opposition party, the UNP and the governing People's Alliance have file 20 and 8 complaints respectively the police said.

The other complaints were filed by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Janaktha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and individual candidates, the police added.

Meanwhile the Deputy Inspector of Police for the North-Western province, K.Abayagunawardene and a dozen police officials from the main police stations in the province have been transferred, said sources.

The General Secretary of the UNP, Gamini Athukorrela, while condemning this action said that it was an attempt by the government to intefere with the elections.

Election authorities said over 4000 elections officials will be on duty at the planned 360 polling booths.