Intra party conflicts heat up Moneragala

Saturday, 06 September 2014 

Election office of Minister's son burnt - Samurdhi manager threatened 

Intra party conflicts in Moneragala have increased in the past few days as candidates of United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and United National Party (UNP) have fought with each other. Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) has received 238 election related complaints out of which 177 are from Moneragala.

Election office of Udara Zoysa (son of minister Wijayamuni Zoysa) at 11 Mile Post, Dodangahawatte was set on fire at around 4.30 am yesterday (05.) Three large cutouts and a number of other items in the office was completely destroyed. On September 03 flash lights at the office were taken away and the attack today is quite similar to those against Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and UNP in recent weeks. Those who were attacked said that it was carried out by outsiders.

Meanwhile a JVP office in Udaviharagala Haputale was also attacked today.

A powerful minister has assaulted Samurdhi office manager of Sempathigama, of the Medawela DS division. This was done as the manager was assisting UPFA's chief ministerial candidate Sashindra Rajapaksa. Since it was a conflict between candidates of the same party a complaint has not been lodged with the police.
Two UNP supporters were assaulted at Polgahaarawa, Kandeketiya by UPFA supporters travelling on a Defender Jeep.

UPFA candidate Suresh Wadiwel who was issued notice for the first election violence incident, attacking Sunil de Silva and his son Manju Bandara of Passara did not turn up at the court for the second time. Although notice has been issued on him, he is freely campaigning in Badulla.