“Our contestants wife Rasathi Mariyathas, 33, mother Gnanama, 47 and brother Mariyathas Thiyagu, 27, injured in the attack, were admitted to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital. The Government of Sri Lanka has a responsibility and obligation to protect members of all political parties in this volatile region where assassinations, kidnappings intimidation of innocent civilians etc are rife and we as a political party are no different.
If a hand grenade could be lobbed at the house of our contesting candidate Mariyathas Arokianathan, it clearly demonstrates the lack of security and safety of civilians in the area. We know perfectly well which armed group was responsible and the Government of Sri Lanka has failed to take any appropriate action in relation to this near fatal incident that could have cost innocent lives,” he added.
Our political wing the Eelavar Democratic Front (EDF) is contesting in the elections in good faith and we expect the Government to provide us with the appropriate security measures for our contesting members accordingly.
Furthermore we question the actions of Batticaloa Deputy Police Commissioner, H. M. S. Herath, who informed media that there had been no serious election related violent incidents in Batticaloa district. This is wholly irresponsible given the fact that our candidate’s house was targeted and a grenade was lobbed. This would not be the first time our members have been targeted by armed groups in the Eastern region and the Government of Sri Lanka including the President cannot continue to claim that there have not been serious election related violations in the region.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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