The Muslim leader has said that like the last general election in 2001, this election too was likely to be full of violence, intimidation and stuffing of ballot boxes, which was why there is a need for more election observers to be posted at all polling stations around the country.

The party has also indicated that the impending election could be the most ‘violence prone’ election in Sri Lankan history ever. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress lost 12 of its supporters from the Kandy district at the last general election in 2001. The People’s Alliance’s former Deputy Minister of Defence Gen. Anurudda Ratwatte was accused of murdering 10 of the 12 SLMC youth in Kandy (known as the Udathalawinna massacre). The court case is still pending. Published: Sat Feb 21 13:25:54 EST 2004

In a letter to Treasury Secretary Charitha Ratwatte, Ms. Kumaratunga’s Secretary W.J.S. Karunaratne has stated, “It has been brought to the notice of this office that attempts are being made to use the budgetary provisions made available under the supplementary recurrent expenses and supplementary capital investment items and Restructuring and Reform expenditure of the National Budget Departments, for election related expenditure programmes. Her Excellency the President has directed that you refrain from incurring any such expenditure and take all necessary steps to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Fiscal Management (Responsibility) Act No. 3 of 2003.”

“Please also note that in addition to vehicles owned by Ministries and Government agencies, all vehicles hired or leased using government funds including funds of corporations and statutory bodies and companies owned by Government are also deemed as public properties and as such should not be used for political purposes. You are requested to issue necessary instructions in this regard to all relevant institutions,” the letter instructed. Published: Sat Feb 21 13:02:20 EST 2004