Sunday’s newspapers published a statement by the Elections Commissioner in which he is quoted as saying that, if measures cannot be taken to curtail the wave of violence ahead of the Uva Provincial Council Elections, a decision has to be taken to postpone the election.

At a media briefing convened on Sunday, the UPFA said that incidents of election law violation have not been reported from the Uva Province as mentioned in media reports.

Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of irrigation and Water Resources Management:

[quote]When we consider this election, the number of incidents of violence is very few. But the papers say that if there is violence, the election will be postponed. When such statements are made the people think this election has become a war zone. But there is no such thing.[/quote]

Dullas Alahapperuma, Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development:

[quote]There are 833 election offices. All the parties have been given the legal right from the Constitution to maintain 833 election offices in this province. From this 833, incidents of assault, vandalism have been reported from only 38. Therefore, as a party and as an alliance we do not believe this.[/quote]