Yesterday (21), the ‘Weediye Virodaya’ were attacked today at Hambantota by a goons led by Hambantota Mayor Eraj Ravindra Fernando, and CaFFE states that police took no action to protect the victims.

“Leader of Weediye Virodaya Jayathilaka Bandara had asked local opposition supporters to meet them at the bus stand fearing that they will be attacked. However despite the presence of opposition politicians, including the leader of opposition at Hambantota MC Auyb Khan, they were assaulted," CaFFE says.

Executive Director of CaFFE, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon says, "We have received reports that Fernando was armed and that he tried to kidnap Bandara. Although they could not kidnap him many were assaulted and six had to get medical assistance at the hospital. However many didn’t even want to go to the hospital fearing further attacks.”

He added that “elections are only a part of political rights and currently the right of holding an opinion, the right to expression, the right to campaign peacefully and the right to free movement of opposition activists are being constantly violated. These street performers has protested many regimes but it was the first time in recent history that they were assaulted like this.”

CaFFE notes that political rights of opposition activists are continuously being violated and thus the election is not teaching the international standards.

"The Commissioner of Elections said that he will resign if there are election malpractices on Election Day but we would like to remind him that the Election Day is usually eventless. What needs to happen usually happens before the day of the polls,” Tennakoon further said.