Marxist JVP and SLFP candidates for Sri Lanka's local government elections clash

Candidates of Sri Lanka's Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) for the upcoming local government elections clashed in the Hambantota District today, the police said.


The JVP has also complained of being harassed by the police when preparing for its national rally in Tissamaharama today.

JVP sources said that the Tissamaharama police had not given permission for the party members to make announcements of its main rally in Tissamaharama to be held today.

The party members have then launched a campaign to announce the rally with the help of tom-tom beaters.

The police have arrested the tom-tom beaters and the party members and had released them after a few hours.

Meanwhile, a clash between the candidates contesting the forthcoming local government elections and their supporters from the JVP and the SLFP has injured many people and five persons have been admitted to the hospital for treatment.

The Tissamaharama Police said the clash took place in Weerawila this morning and that five persons have been admitted to the Debarawewa Hospital for treatment.

The Tissamaharama Police are inquiring into the incident.