Warring parties

FIVE members of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) were killed in Negombo, 20 miles north of Colombo, on 20 September. The dead included Katunayake-Seeduwa Town Council Vice Chairman Silvan Perera. Twelve others were injured in the incident.

The assailants who are alleged to be supporters of the ruling People’s Alliance (PA) threw grenades and fired on the car in which the UNP members were travelling. The attack is the latest in a series of clashes between UNP and PA supporters.

PA supporters Shelton Fernando and Ranjith Fernando were shot dead on 31 August at Kurana in the Katunayake area during ceremonies at St Mary’s Baptist Church to commemorate UNP’s 50th anniversary. Reports say the ceremonies were postponed after the church was attacked and the parish priest threatened. Western Province UNP councillor Devindra Mendis and security officer Shantha Kumara are in custody in connection with the murders.

UNP says the families of those who died in Negombo have been threatened by PA thugs. Party members are not convinced by the appointment of a special police investigation team. They say the police have failed to probe a number of violent incidents since 1994 and allege President Chandrika is encouraging attacks on the UNP by her inaction.

UNP politician and Nuwara Eliya Mayor Nalin Herath was shot at by a motor cyclist on 4 August. Police suspect that two of her supporters were murdered and buried in the forest area of World’s End, south of Nuwara Eliya. Thirteen suspects have been taken into custody.

UNP candidate for a cooperative society election in Piliyandala DKD Chandrapala and his brother Karunaratne were shot dead on 24 August, following a dispute in handing nomination papers. The following day the two political parties clashed in Matugama.

Many people are concerned that political violence may affect government’s peace package currently before the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reform (PSC). UNP’s support is vital for the passage of the proposals in Parliament. There is pressure within UNP to withdraw from the PSC. UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe who met NGOs in September over the issue of violence, declared that his party will continue to participate in the peace process. But if violence continues, Mr Wickremasinghe may find it difficult to resist the hardliners within the party.
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