Monitors say attacks against the JVP increases day by day

The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) said there is evidence that the supporters of the ruling coalition are deliberately targeting United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

Elections for the Sabaragamuwa and North Central PCs are scheduled to be held on 23 August.

In Sabaragamuwa Province, there seems to be a clear trend of attacks by the ruling UPFA against the JVP, a statement by Caffe said.

Court warns police

It said in Ratnapura and Kegalle districts, JVP supporters and the party offices were targeting by UPFA supporters.

The monitoring mission has recorded 217 election related incidents in both provinces including 151 incidents of election violence.

	Ramanayaka was attacked by UPFA supporters in Gallella

“The intensification of clashes between the JVP and the UPFA is an indication of a rise in tensions in the search for votes between the two parties in the Sabaragamuwa province,” the statement added.

The monitors have called on the elections commissioner and police to take appropriate measures to ensure the polls are free and fair.

Earlier, the judiciary ordered the police to be impartial in their investigations over election violence.

Ratnapura magistrate made the order on 10 August as police only arrested JVP supporters, three of them injured, after a UPFA-JVP clash in Nivithigala.

Authorities also suspended six policemen in relation to a incident in which United National Party’s (UNP) chief ministerial candidate, Ranjan Ramanayaka was assaulted by UPFA supporters.

Five of them were reinstated on the next day by Sabaragamuwa Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police, Upali Hewage, who accused the JVP of inciting violence.