A meeting of the candidates contesting the Eastern Provincial Council election for Batticaloa District from the JVP was held at Rivera Resort hall at Kalladi today (4th) chaired by Parliamentarian Sunil Handunneththi.
The meeting that commenced at about 3.00 p.m. was attended by candidates of the JVP and a stranger. The stranger had come in a motorcycle having reg. no. EP XQ 0948. Only candidates of the JVP contesting from Batticaloa District had been invited for the meeting while the JVP suspects that the stranger was a member of the Army intelligence unit.
Meanwhile, at the discussion regarding elections for Batticaloa District Mr. Sunil Handunneththi had complained to the District Commissioner of Elections that members of Army intelligence act in a manner that intimidates candidates of his party and there had been instances when members of Army intelligence had gone to residences of candidates and questioned them and members of their families. The District Commissioner of Elections had promised that he would look into the matter.
However, the JVP states the government has placed obstacles for opposition political parties to engage in politics in the Eastern Province by intimidating and terrorizing the candidates and their supporters.
LT