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Violence mars Sri Lanka campaigns
Hindu,
Jan 13.
COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government on Wednesday strongly condemned the shooting at a group of supporters of the opposition presidential candidate General (retired) Sarath Fonseka, in which one woman was killed and several others were injured. The United States said it was deeply concerned at what it described as escalating violence.
Keerthi Tenakoon, with the Centre for Free and Fair Elections (CFFE) said even more disturbing was the fact that repeated directives from the Election Commissioner’s office were being ignored as election laws continued to be violated at all levels in most parts of the country.
Observers have already recorded an estimated 273 complaints that include 70 cases of assault, many of a serious nature.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who advanced the elections by two years while making a bid for second endorsement, and the former Army Chief who has emerged as the consensus for all the political foes of Mr. Rajapaksa, are the chief contenders in the elections which are being keenly watched for a number of reasons.
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Published: Wed Jan 13 22:06:34 EST 2010
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Sri Lanka has the last laugh
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