Election monitors in Sri Lanka say that there is a danger of people being prevented of voting as a result of the need for an identity card to qualify for voting.
Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) media spokesman Keerthi Tennakoon told BBC Sandeshaya that over 25 percent of voters in Uva province do not possess any alternative identity cards recommended by the authorities.
The commissioner of elections has announced that all voters should carry the national identity card (NIC) or an alternative identity card for the polls.
'Expensive IDs'
“There is a considerable amount of Sinhala and Tamil estate workers in Badulla district. More than 25 percent of them do not have any form of recommended ID,” Mr. Tennakoon told BBC Sinhala service.
He said these estate workers find it difficult to get an alternative ID due to financial difficulties.
“It is difficult for the estate workers to spend about Rs. 300, which is about three days wages of an estate worker, to get and alternative ID,” he said.
The government has earlier dissolved the Uva provincial council paving the way for fresh elections.
Meanwhile, the government says it has been conducting a mobile service to issue NICs in Badulla district.( News- BBC sinhala)
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Monday, June 29, 2009
March for peace in London
Thousands of Sri Lankans representing all major nationalities and religions took part in a peace march in London, say organisers.
The organisers handed over a petition to British PM Gordon Brown at Downing Street after marching in London on Saturday.
“We wanted to express our gratitude to British people for their support in defeating terrorism and urge UK to take concrete steps to prevent terrorism re-emerging in Sri Lanka,” Dhammika Ekanayake, an organiser told BBC Sandeshaya.
The Sri Lankan government declared a military victory over the Tamil Tigers after 26 years of bloody civil war, last month.
Although the LTTE is militarily defeated, say organisers, there is still a considerable sympathy towards the LTTE among Tamil diaspora and some sections of the international community.
“Therefore, we felt it is our duty to appeal to the international community to help rebuild the country than supporting the LTTE,” Mr. Ekanayake said.
The protest was organised by Sri Lankans Against Terrorism (SLAT) UK.
The organisers handed over a petition to British PM Gordon Brown at Downing Street after marching in London on Saturday.
“We wanted to express our gratitude to British people for their support in defeating terrorism and urge UK to take concrete steps to prevent terrorism re-emerging in Sri Lanka,” Dhammika Ekanayake, an organiser told BBC Sandeshaya.
The Sri Lankan government declared a military victory over the Tamil Tigers after 26 years of bloody civil war, last month.
Although the LTTE is militarily defeated, say organisers, there is still a considerable sympathy towards the LTTE among Tamil diaspora and some sections of the international community.
“Therefore, we felt it is our duty to appeal to the international community to help rebuild the country than supporting the LTTE,” Mr. Ekanayake said.
The protest was organised by Sri Lankans Against Terrorism (SLAT) UK.
US warns travellers of S.Lanka terror attack risk
The United States issued Sunday a warning for its nationals travelling to or in Sri Lanka about the risk of possible terror attacks despite the recent crushing of Tamil Tiger separatists.
Sri Lanka defeated the Tamil Tigers last month but rebel remnants still posed a threat and could carry out assaults, the state department said in the latest travel advisory on its website.
"No new terrorist incidents have occurred since the government?s declaration of military victory over the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)," the advisory said.
"Despite the conclusion of hostilities, remnants of the insurgency group remain."
It also noted that Sri Lanka itself was maintaining a heightened state of security despite claiming it had ended the conflict, which lasted almost 40 years.
The US state department warned its nationals against travelling to the island's northern province and to much of the east where battles took place till mid-May between government forces and the Tigers.
"Travel in some parts of the country remains highly restricted by the Sri Lankan government, with particular sensitivity concerning the large number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps (in the north)," it said.
The military is holding nearly 300,000 Tamil civilians who escaped the fighting in internment camps and has severely restricted access to them. About half a dozen foreign nationals of Sri Lankan origin are held in the camps.
The state department also warned US citizens of Sri Lankan origin that they may be subjected to additional scrutiny upon arrival and while in the country.
"In some cases, foreigners of Sri Lankan origin may be detained without their embassy being notified," the statement said. "The activities of journalists, researchers, aid workers, and volunteers receive particular attention."
The latest US warning came as Colombo asked other countries, especially western nations, to relax travel advisories which have discouraged tourists to the South Asian island.
Sri Lanka defeated the Tamil Tigers last month but rebel remnants still posed a threat and could carry out assaults, the state department said in the latest travel advisory on its website.
"No new terrorist incidents have occurred since the government?s declaration of military victory over the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)," the advisory said.
"Despite the conclusion of hostilities, remnants of the insurgency group remain."
It also noted that Sri Lanka itself was maintaining a heightened state of security despite claiming it had ended the conflict, which lasted almost 40 years.
The US state department warned its nationals against travelling to the island's northern province and to much of the east where battles took place till mid-May between government forces and the Tigers.
"Travel in some parts of the country remains highly restricted by the Sri Lankan government, with particular sensitivity concerning the large number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps (in the north)," it said.
The military is holding nearly 300,000 Tamil civilians who escaped the fighting in internment camps and has severely restricted access to them. About half a dozen foreign nationals of Sri Lankan origin are held in the camps.
The state department also warned US citizens of Sri Lankan origin that they may be subjected to additional scrutiny upon arrival and while in the country.
"In some cases, foreigners of Sri Lankan origin may be detained without their embassy being notified," the statement said. "The activities of journalists, researchers, aid workers, and volunteers receive particular attention."
The latest US warning came as Colombo asked other countries, especially western nations, to relax travel advisories which have discouraged tourists to the South Asian island.
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