The meeting was organised in Jaffna to discuss election issues

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) accused the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) of not allowing the TNA to conduct their election campaign.

Former parliamentarian MK Sivajilingam and E Saravanabhavan, MP, particularly accused ruling coalition party EPDP led by Minister Douglas Devananda of preventing them campaigning in the Delft islands off Jaffna.

The TNA made the accusations at a meeting of all political parties and government officials organised by an assistant commissioner of elections, reports Dinasena Ratugamage from Jaffna.

The TNA representatives also challenged the police to remove,all bill boards of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Devananda and other leading government politicians.

'No manpower'

They added that it is the duty of the police to remove illegal cut outs, rather than waiting for somebody to lodge a complaint.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nevil Padmadeva in response said police could only investigate if only they receive a complaint.

He also requested the parties to name suspects of intimidation and threats.

"Police have no manpower to remove cut outs," SSP Padmadeva informed the meeting.

The co-ordinating secretary of the UPFA in Jaffna, Chintana de Silva, said the Tamils in Jaffna have differences over caste, language and the preferential votes.

Therefore, he said, it is natural that some incidents occur during elections.

The meeting was chaired by Jaffna Government Agent, Emilda Sukumar.