UPFA supporters obstruct voters from estate areas - CaFFE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 August 2008, 08:57 GMT]
Several Estate houses have been set on fire by UFPA supporters at Yatiyanthota Weoya and there is continuous obstruction of voters coming from estate areas into polling booths, according to a situation update by the Campaign for Free & Fair Elections (CaFFE), which has deployed more than 1200 monitors in both the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. However, voters have been participating enthusiastically in the elections since early morning, the CaFFE report further said.

There have been several reports from the Polling divisions in the Deraniyagala, Kegalle District related to the rejection of identity cards issued by the Grama Sevaka. Proper instructions have not been received by the people regarding the necessity to get the authorized signature of the Divisional Secretary, according to the CaFFE Colombo centre.

At Yatiyanthota Weoya several Estate houses have been set on fire by UFPA supporters and an injured person has been rushed to the nearest hospital. There is continuous obstruction of voters coming from estate areas into polling booths.

In the Anuradhapura District in Thambutegama, Irugaswewa a former Chief Minister and his supporters has set fire to the house of JVP Pradheshiya Saba Member Dammika Jayawardhena and also assaulted his uncle.

CaFFE has also received reports that the TMVP has been involved in voter intimidation in the Muslim villages of Sungawila and the Palliyagodella areas in the Polonaruwa District.

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