Sri Lanka deploys commandos after violence-hit campaign

Colombo: Sri Lankan police said on Tuesday they were deploying elite commandos to guard polling centres ahead of voting in a closely-fought presidential election, after a campaign marred by violence.
Scores of people have been injured in pre-election violence, including a drive-by shooting at a rally addressed by the main opposition candidate, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said.
Some 65,000 officers have been deployed to guard polling booths and counting centres during Thursday’s presidential election, Rohana said.
“We have deployed them with orders to use proportionate force to deal with anyone who tries to disrupt the electoral process,” he told reporters.
President Mahinda Rajapakse, who is seeking an unprecedented third term in office, was widely seen as the clear favourite until his former health minister Maithripala Sirisena mounted a surprise challenge two months ago.
He faces a tough challenge from Sirisena, who has managed to unite opposition to the 69-year-old leader.
The independent Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) accused the ruling party of tolerating “flagrant violation of election laws” and said opposition party offices had been targeted. The CMEV, which is deploying more than 4,000 monitors across the country, said it had documented 420 incidences of violence since the election was announced on November 20.
It said the Tamil-dominated northern Jaffna district, scene of a bloody civil war with separatist rebels, was worst hit.
Rajapakse is widely detested by members of the country’s biggest minority and the main Tamil party has rallied behind Sirisena.
International poll monitors say there are fears the government may use the military to block votes for the opposition, although the authorities deny this.
Amnesty International said reports of violence and harassment of voters were “deeply troubling”.
“The authorities have a responsibility to ensure that all people in Sri Lanka can exercise their rights to political participation and freedom of expression without facing threats or violence,” said David Griffiths, the rights group’s deputy Asia Pacific director.
Rohana said the army was on standby after reports of attempted murders and violent clashes, although no deaths from election violence have been reported.
Police have arrested 150 people in connection with poll-related violence, he said.
Some 15 million people are eligible to vote on Thursday to elect a president for a six-year term.