Uva Provincial, Jaffna Municipal Council & Vavuniya Urban Council Election 2009

(August 08, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The day before the elections, no incidents related to violations were reported from Monaragala and Badulla Districts.

On the day of the elections, there were a number of reports in relation to the violation of election laws. Election propaganda activities, displaying of cut-outs, banners and posters in town areas on the day of the election were significant characteristics in relation to this. All major political parties displayed their banners, cut-outs unlawfully.

Voters with no Identification Documents.

During this election a large number of voters lost their right to vote due to the reason that they did not posses the NIC or any other proper identification document. This was mainly reported from Passara, Haliela, Bandarawela, Haputhale and Uvaparanagama areas in the Badulla District where the estate worker community was affected by this trend. In the Passara area alone, around 125 -140 people were denied the right to vote due to not possessing a valid identification document.

Even in the Jaffna Municipality area a large number of voters were denied the right to vote because they failed to produce proper identification documents. A key reason for this was that a large number of people were not aware of their voting rights. In addition to this, people from the Vavuniya Urban Council who were issued with Identity Papers by the Vavuniya District Secretariat were rejected by Election Officers in polling stations, since they were not accepted.
Violations of Peace and Election Law

CaFFE received 10 reports on violations of Peace and Election Laws.

One major incident was reported from Mahiyangana area in the Badulla District, in which the JVP Candidate Mr. Wasantha Kumara and his Driver were attacked and the vehicle they were traveling was damaged.

There were a number of incidents in relation to Intimidation reported from the Welimada and Uvaparanagama areas.

An important characteristic in the Jaffna Municipal Council was that no assaults were reported from within the council area. However, it was a reported from Puttalam area, where a large number of Jaffna IDPs are residing, in which a Government Minister had assaulted an opposition party candidate.

There were also a significant number of reports from the Vavuniya Urban Council Area regarding a heated conflictual situation between supporters of Minister Rishard Badudeen and supporters of the SLMC. 3 incidents were reported of which in one incident former SLMC MP Mr. Noordeen Mashur was assaulted and injured.

It was also reported that supporters of Minster Rishard Badudeen forcibly chased away the CaFFE Observers from the Patchipuliyanukulam polling station 4 times.

Illegal Election Propaganda Activities

The CaFFE ( Campaign for Free & Fair Elections )received 21 reports on Illegal Election Propaganda Activities. These reports indicated that information cards with candidate preferential numbers were distributed among the people on the day of the election. Also, banners/cut-outs were displayed prominently in all major public areas. CaFFE also has observed that this was not the first election that was held with cut-outs, banners displayed prominently on the day of an election. This trend was especially prominently seen in all areas in Badulla, Monaragala Districts and the Vauniya Urban Council.

-Sri Lanka Guardian