Widespread Frauds and Vote Rigging in Sri Lanka EP Election - Opposition Parties

Colombo - UNP, SLMC, JVP and many other election monitoring bodies in Sri Lanka called the tensed election conducted by the Rajapaksa’s government in the Eastern Province (EP) was marred with widespread vote rigging by the paramilitary Pillaiyan group working along with the ruling Rajapaksa’s party, were tainted by vote tampering and intimidation.

Archbishop Oswald Gomez from the Archdiocese of Colombo says that while the Government is claiming victory, it remains for the courts to decide whether the election was valid.

The United States is to raise concern the way in which the EP election conducted and US to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan government according to a Colombo media report.

“We are concerned and disappointed in the manner the Eastern Provincial Council Elections have been held and our only hope is to see peace in the eastern district. We are also disappointed that international representatives who had arrived in the country to monitor the elections were prevented from entering many polling booths,” a source from the US State Department told The Daily Mirror.

“Hours after the election results were announced, the opposition and election monitors called for a re-poll. I think the government should initiate an immediate inquiry and hold discussions with all political parties on whether a re-poll should be held. They should not ignore this problem,” the source said.

Meanwhile, reliable sources in Colombo told TNS European Union and US officials in Colombo met with SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem and discussed the post EP election situation with him.