NPC polls: UNP alleges military intelligence targets candidates

The UNP candidates contesting the upcoming Northern Provincial Council Poll have complained to the Elections Commissioner and Police of harassment by Defence Ministry intelligence officers.Senior UNP MP, Ravi Karunanayake addressing a press conference in Colombo yesterday, said that the UNP candidates in their complaints to the Polls Chief and Police had stated that the intelligence officers questioned them on their movements and objective of contesting the election.


The army was being used to frighten the Opposition though the government had told the international community including the Commonwealth that democracy had been re-established and the stage set for free and fair polls in the former war zone, he noted.

The MP pointed out that as the September election date neared, UPFA Ministers and MPs along with their gangs were visiting various parts of the North to intimidate voters.

The Rajapaksa regime, he observed, knew very well that it would lose, if a free and fair election was held in the North. So, it was resorting to thuggery in addition to the blatant abuse of state resources such as vehicles and buildings.

Karunanayake said that with a retired military officer as the Governor of the Northern Province, UNP candidates were faced with many obstacles.