US amabassador in Sri Lanka Robert O Blake in Batticaloa

If one party is allowed arms and threaten and intimidate other parties and other contestants free and fair electionscan not be held, said the US Ambassador addressing a public function held in Batticaloa on Wednesday.

The US Ambassador said,” Unchecked illegal paramilitary activity also discourages the prime investment that is badly needed to help the reconstruction process in the east".

He said that the US is working with the government, the private sector, and non-governmental organisations to help establish and reconstruct whole of east particularly Batticaloa.

Elected representatives

This will be done, he said, in such a way that will improve relations between all three communities - Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims in these areas and gradually put authority into the hands of elected representatives of the communities.

“The upcoming elections for local council seats in Batticaloa marks a very important opportunity to give the Tamils the opportunity to have their first elected Governor”, the US Ambassador Blake said.

This is why the US believed all paramilitaries including TMVP should not be allowed to bear arms, he said.

“They should compete with words and not with bullets”, the US Ambassador added.