PA-UNP clash wounds three

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 December 1998, 16:48 GMT]
Three persons were wounded in a grenade explosion following a fracas between supporters of the main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP) and the ruling People's Alliance (PA) this evening around 5.30 p.m. at Silver Town in Madampa north of Colombo.

The Sri Lankan Police at Chilaw arrested five persons in connection with the fracas and grenade attack.

Sources said that they were mostly UNP supporters and members.

The brawl erupted when a crowd of PA supporters in Silver Town had jeered at a group of UNP supporters who were returning from Puttalam after filing nomination for the forthcoming elections to the north-western provincial council in three buses.

The north-western provincial council elections may lead to further such confrontations because it is considered crucial by both the UNP and the PA. The parliamentary general elections are scheduled to be held between August and December next year.

Therefore the outcome of the elections to the north-western provincial council will indicate the mood of the people, political analysts in Colombo say. And as such it is set to decide the general political trend in the election year, they added.