A house which was to host an event today to reorganize the United National Party (UNP) electoral organizations in Nawalapitiya before the prospective Presidential Election next year was attacked yesterday, the Campaign for a Free and Fair Election stated in a media release. The house has been pelleted with stones and then a petrol bomb was thrown into the house, it further states.

Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) noted that this is the third incident where opposition party candidates or supporters were attacked in the last five days. It also expressed its grave concern about these continuous attacks in the run up to the possible presidential nominations.

CaFFE Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon was quoted saying that “that there are signs that a systematic campaign of intimidation has been directed at opposition political parties, which is a broader part of a government strategy to cow the opposition into submission before the coming presidential election.  The recent revitalization of the opposition might be a trigger for these attacks. The government has launched a series of attacks on opposition politicians with strong support. These attacks might grow in frequency and intensity.”

Nawalapitiya is famous for election related violence during last 15 years and in 2010 there was a re-poll for the 2010 general elections. The UNP’s new electoral organizer for Nawalapitiya Ananda Aluthgamage had organized the meeting which was to be attended by UNP National Organizer Daya Gamage and MPs Lakshman Kirielle and P.Harrison, CaFFE said. The owner of the house HPP Pushpakumara has said that this attack was carried out by a group travelling in a  black coloured Defender Jeep.  He added that earlier he had received threats over the phone.

Tennakoon also has reminded of the recent attacks on a UNP convoy at Giriulla and on UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara. He has expressed concern about these attacks on opposition politicians and supporters, which have now seemingly becoming a daily occurrence. As there is a high probability that these attacks will increase after the nominations for the presidential election is called, CaFFE has urged the police and election officials to take steps to stop the attacks on opposition politicians and supporters.