Elections are scheduled to be held on 23 July for twenty local bodies.

Rajith Keerthi Thennakoon, Excecutive Director of Caffe told Sandesaya that government authorities have not so far responded to election related complaints made by the TNA.

Violence

Violence and interference have discouraged election campaigning in the three districts, where local government elections are held after twenty five years.

“There is no enthusiasm, or fervour for elections in the districts and candidates are not taking much interest in the campaign” Thennakoon said.

He said there are obstacles including free movement for people in these districts as there is vigilance by the security forces.

Thennakoon said that there had been an attack on the TNA when they had their first meeting and, a search operation by the security forces during thier second meeting.

He said in Manipai a dog's head was hung on the gate of a candidate's house while dirty water was thrown on to the doorstep of another.

The army has been involved in the civil administration to a certain extent in these areas and its influence has affected the political activites of the people, he added.