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2013 Provincial Council Election – Summery
Areas covered
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) deployed its election monitors in all districts where the elections are held, Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullativ and Vavuniya.
Important – This report only contains incidents between 7 am to 2 pm on August 1 and during pre nomination period.
Background
After Central and Northwestern Provincial Councils were dissolved state property has been widely used for election campaigning. CaFFE informed bout this phenomenon to the governors of Central and Northwestern provinces, Tikiri Kobbekaduwa and Tissa R Balalla. In addition the Department of Elections issued several circulars requesting authorities to reacquire the state properties being used for campaign purposes. However the misuse of state property remained unabated and several candidates used vehicles owned by the provincial council to hand in their nominations.
Last day of nominations
Background
There were several incidents of assault, intimidation and interferences in Jaffna, Kurunegala and Matale districts before the deadline for nominations expired. Among the most significant incidents are the intimidation of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) candidates S. Sayanthan and Ananthi Sasitharan, the wife of the LTTE's former Trincomalee political wing leader, Elilan, after they handed over their nominations.
Meanwhile United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidates Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon and Thilak Bandara clashed on July 28th. Naula police confiscated several vehicles used for the clash, one vehicle belongs to the Ministry of Lands which is headed by Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon’s father.
Supporters of UPFA candidate for Northwestern Provincial council Jehan Fernando and Ibbagamuwa Pradesheeya sabha member Prasad Kumara, a supporter of UPFA candidate Manjula Dissanayake, clashed in Puttalam junction, Kurunegala. Kumara was admitted to the hospital due to injuries sustained.
Several large cutout of United National Party (UNP) candidate Jude Fernando in Kurunegala was destroyed. However cutouts of UPFA candidate Jehan Fernando, UNP group leader Shamal Senarath and UNP candidate Manjula Bandara, situates close by, were unharmed. Election cutouts of former United National Party (UNP) MP and current United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Northwestern Province chief ministerial candidate Dayasiri Jayaseka, erected in Kurunegala and Navinna, have been destroyed on July 31. Meanwhile commenting on the election situation in Kurunegala minister Salinda Dissanayake said “we can’t even paste a poster in Kurunegala. Drunks carrying weapons destroy our campaign material,” accusing Minister Johnston Fernando and his son Jehan Fernando of election violence in Kurunegala.
Situation outside DS office premises
The environment outside DS offices was relatively peaceful compared to recent elections. There was tight security provided to the DS office premises and no unauthorized person was allowed to enter.
CaFFE monitors observed the proceedings from inside Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Kandy, Vavuniya and Mulativu DS offices. CaFFE monitors were the only domestic election monitors inside these DS office premises observing the proceedings. In Kilinochchi a catholic civil society organization carried out voter education programmes. CaFFE monitors were stationed outside Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Kurunegala and Puttalam DS offices to observe the proceedings.
However there were number of minor incidents reported from many districts.
Summery of the day’s proceedings
Candidates carried out rallies and meetings in Kurunegala and Kandy districts after the nominations violating article 69 of the Provincial Council election act.
There were no serious incidents in Puttalam, Matale, Mulativu and Jaffna districts. However UPFA candidates held rallies in Nuwara Eliya, Matale and Kilinochichi districts. Given below is the comprehensive report of our observations.
Illegal rallies and processions
According to article 69 of the Provincial Council election act it is illegal to hold rallies after nominations. However such rallies were held in the districts given below.
Vavuniya district
Supporters of an independent group whose nominations were rejected expressed their anger in the Vavuniya city and left in a van after a while. Apart from this there were no incidents in Vavuniya till 2.30 pm today.
Kandy district
Supporters of Sarath Ekanayake, Amjas and Anuradha Jayarathne held rallies in Kandy city.
Kurunegala district
UPFA provincial council candidates held a meeting at the Kurunegala bus stand after nominations were handed over. Government ministers Jayarathne Herath, SB Navinna and Salinda Dissanayake as well as UPFA candidates Dayasiri Jayasekara, Piumal Herath and Manjula Dissanayake also attended this event. The UPFA candidates ignored Kurunegala police requested to stop the meeting.
Kilinochichi district
UPFA candidates held a rally in the city after handing over nominations.
Matale district
Supporters of UPFA candidate Parakrama Dissanayake held a rally in Matale after nominations were handed over.
Mulativu district
UPFA candidates held procession in the city after nominations were handed over and a large number of firecrackers were also lighted.
Nuwara Eliya district
Supporters of several UPFA candidates held processions in the city using CTB buses.
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