Sri Lanka opposition warns of poll violence
|
Sri Lanka will host its first peace-time presidential election on January 26
COLOMBO — Sri Lanka's opposition warned on Saturday of possible vote-rigging and violence by the ruling party in next week's presidential election as both sides wound up campaigning.
Ahead of final campaign rallies later on Saturday, opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka predicted that the ruling party, led by President Mahinda Rajapakse, would use violence to intimidate his supporters in Tuesday's vote.
"They want to create violence and discourage people from voting. A lower turnout will help rigging," he told reporters, adding he expected fake voters and forged ballot papers to also be used.
In the run-up to the poll, police say at least four people have been killed and hundreds wounded in clashes between rival supporters. The house of an influential opposition figure was bombed on Friday.
Fonseka said he and his allies would rely on the protection of the security forces, most of whom he said would vote for him except for a few senior figures who are "trying to please the government."
"We can't counter violence with violence. We have to abide by the law," he said.
Sri Lanka's government has denied it has been behind the wave of election-related unrest and Rajapakse's office said Friday that he was "gravely concerned" over the escalating violence.