UNP, Police implicated in election offences

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 February 2000, 11:13 GMT]
The Batticaloa Additional District Judge issued on Thursday notices on 17 people, including high ranking police officials and UNP politicians, charged by the State for electoral offences committed during the local government elections held in 1994 at Eravur and Kattankudy Pradeshiya Sabha polls.

They are due to appear in court on March 22.

Mr. K.Thadchchanamoorthy, Additional District Judge said that on March 22 charge sheets would be served on the accused.

Inspector P.M.B.Hameed of Criminal Investigations Department of the Police last week filed complaints against 17 people accusing them of offences such as obstructing voting and threatening voters.

Chandrasiri Fernando, former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Douglas Peiris, former Senior Superintendent of Police and some leading UNP politicians are among the accused.

Around 97 people, including the present Defense Secretary Chandrananda de Silva who was Commissioner of Elections during 1994 under the then UNP government, are cited as witnesses in this case.