UNP says the provincial polls were 'systematically rigged'

The results did not portray the true aspirations of the voting public, the United National Party (UNP) said.

The ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) secured a sweeping victory in the elections held on 23 August for North Central and Sabaragamuwa PCs.

In both provinces, the UPFA has received over 200,000 votes than the main contender, UNP.

Sweeping victory

However, UNP chief ministerial candidate for the NCPC, Maj. Gen. (rtd.) Janaka Perera told BBC Sandeshaya that a systematic vote rigging has taken place.

“The rigging was three-pronged; first they intimidate the voters, then they threaten and collect polling cards from the voters. Actual vote rigging in the polling booths was the final and third option,” he said.

Have you heard about any country where angry civilians come with T-56 automatic rifles or hand grenades? Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera

It is highly unusual for the UNP to lose in such a scale after a strong support in the election campaign, he added.

The UNP has already reported to the elections commissioner that more polling boxes were returned than brought in at some polling booths, he added.

The polling was relatively peaceful on Saturday compared to the pre-poll violence, according to election monitors.

Election violence

However, shootings, assaults and arson attacks were reported on the election day and before the polls.

UPFA chief ministerial candidate for NCPC, Berty Premalal Dissanayake, told BBC Sandeshaya that it was the UNP that first unleashed the violence.

Angry UPFA supporters, he said, attacked UNP supporters as they came under attack.

	President says the public have endorsed the war strategy

But Maj. Gen. Perera categorically rejected the allegation.

“Have you heard about any country where angry civilians come with T-56 automatic rifles or hand grenades?” he questioned.

However the ruling party denied any involvement of violent incidents in the run up to the polls.

Former CM Berty Premalal Dissanayake accused media of being biased towards the opposition in their coverage of election violence.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, meanwhile, has described the result as an endorsement of government war strategy.

However, the former deputy head of Sri Lanka Army says the war and the provincial polls are not related.

“In 1983, for example,” he said, “the UNP lost the southern PC elections, but the government continued with the war," Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera said.