UNP is to urge commissioner to bring military in for election duty

General Secretary of United National Party (UNP) told BBC Sandeshaya that the pre-election violence has increased in the province.

"Especially in Central Colombo, the Muslim community is intimidated and threatened not to campaign by armed groups," Tissa Attanayake said.

The UNP, he said, has made formal complaints on the situation to the police chief and elections commissioner on Sunday.

JVP protest

Political party leaders are scheduled to meet the commissioner on 21 April.

"We will be asking the commissioner to call the army if the police don't take action to stop these threats by underworld gangs," Mr. Attanayake said.

	JVP accuses the police of not taking action to arrest a murder suspect

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) also protested in Yakkala on Sunday against "the inactivity of the police".

Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath speaking to BBC Sandeshaya after the protest said that the killers of a JVP supporter are "still at large".

Denying the accusations police said that people cannot be arrested "just because politicians make allegations".

Police spokesman, SSP Ranjith Gunasekara told BBC Sandeshaya that the police are investigating few serious incidents related to elections, including the killing of the JVP supporter.

Many of the other cases of alleged violence are "minor incidents," said the police spokesman.

The elections for the WPC are scheduled to be held on 25 April.