Re-poll in Kumpuruppiddi village

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 April 2010, 16:19 GMT]
A re-poll is to be held in Kumpuruppiddi polling station in the Trincomalee electorate on April 20 following the cancellation of polling held on April 8. Kumpuruppiddi is a Tamil village located north of Trincomalee town along Trincomalee-Pulmoaddai highway.

The Sri Lankan Commissioner of Elections has ordered the re-poll following reports that a gang had entered into the Kumpuruppiddi polling station and forcibly removed the ballot papers that led the suspension of counting process later.

The Police have ordered a special investigation into the alleged incident to find out why the police officers stationed at the polling station failed to stop the gang from entering the polling station. The members of gang are supporters of a minister in the ruling party.

Until the re-poll is held the Election Secretariat has suspended the release of Trincomalee electorate district result. However unofficial reports stated the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won two seats including the bonus seat, one seat by the United National Party (UNP) and the third seat by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).