UPFA blames UNP for Bloemendhal incident

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The United People’s Freedom Front (UFFA) claimed the shooting incident near Bloemendhal Road, Kotahena on Friday, where a UNP supporter was killed, was testimony to the UNP’s attempt to disrupt the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the run-up to the General Election.

Although Elections Commissioner, Mahinda Deshapriya has ensured to conduct a free and fair election, UNP Colombo District candidate, Ravi Karunanayake is attempting to unleash violence in Colombo by creating a fear psychosis among opposition candidates and their supporters. If the former UPFA Government eradicated ‘Underworld’ operated in Colombo, some UNP Colombo District candidates have used them for their campaign, UPFA Colombo District candidate, Thilanga Sumathipala told a media briefing at the SLFP party headquarters, Colombo yesterday.

Although candidates have been prohibited from engaging in any procession or canvassing with more than 15 people, Karunanayake had blatantly violated the election law, canvassing with over 200 people at Bloemendhal Road, he said.

Some of them carrying arms were among his supporters. After January this year, many underworld characters have returned to Sri Lanka from abroad. Earlier, they engaged in organized crime, but such elements were now engaged in the election campaign of some Colombo District UNP candidates, he said.

“Is this the good governance that Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ravi Karunanayake are talking about.

The Premier should take the rap for this incident. We call upon the Elections Commissioner and the IGP to bring Karunanayake before the law. We also request the media to be alert about the emerging situation,” he said.

Sumathipala said that the UPFA expressed its regret over the shooting incident. “Has the UNP condemned this incident? Where is the good governance?” he queried.

The UNP is trying to sweep this incident under the carpet just like how they covered up the Central Bank Bond issue.

At present the video tape of this incident has been taken by the Police. W call upon the Police to immediately conduct an impartial inquiry on this incident and release the visuals of that video to the people.

This incident is a huge blow against democracy. The lives of opposition candidates and their supporters in Colombo are at great risk due to the violence unleashed in Colombo and its suburbs. We call upon the people to remove these uncivilised politicians from politics, he said.

SLFP Media spokesman, Dilan Perera said that some Sri Lankan underworld characters in Dubai and India have returned and some had reserved houses in the Bloemendhal area.

According to police sources the underworld is divided and fraught with violence. Candidatess were being openly accompanied by these underworld elements Even some UNP candidates were moving around with these elements. It has been found that those who have open warrants against them participated in Minister John Amaratunga’s election campaign.

It is obvious that the Bloemendhal Road incident was a result of a clash between two underworld gangs.

Now what has happened is the security of underworld characters were ensured while the security of the ordinary people was at risk. Where is the Purawasi Balaya and people such as Viyangoda who made a big hue and cry even when a trivial incident took place under the previous government, he queried.