No faith on PAFFREL: UNP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 April 2008, 11:46 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) has said that it has no faith in the leading election monitoring mission in the country, the Peoples' Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL). A senior UNP leader, Ravi Karunanayake said that the UNP will not recognize PAFFREL as an independent monitoring mission as the party has doubts over its recent statements and actions. "We do not consider them as independent monitoring group," Mr. Karunanayake said.

Sri Lankan state-owned print and electronic media have been giving wide publicity to statements made by PAFFREL Executive Director Mr.Kingsely Rodrigo with the completion of Batticaloa district local polls and since the date of the east election was declared.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Police has said that protection would be provided to political meetings and processions organized by political parties and independent groups in the east election.

"The police officer in charge of the area would be held responsible for any outbreak of violence during the period", media reports quoted Deputy Inspector General of Police Gamini Navaretna who is in charge of east elections.

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