Current information on any violence perpetrated by Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) supporters against United National Party (UNP) supporters [LKA21166.E]

The two attached articles refer to violence allegedly perpetrated by Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) supporters against United National Party (UNP) supporters prior to the August 1994 elections that ended the UNP rule and brought a SLFP-led coalition to power.

Reuters states, based on "party sources," that

[SLFP] supporters clashed with UNP members in the southern Hambantota district on Sunday night after hearing a local party office was attacked by the rival party. Both sides had exchanged fire (21 Mar. 1994).
According to the report Sri Lankan police detained an SLFP MP and an SLFP candidate in the March 1994 regional elections after a UNP member was shot in the leg (ibid.).

Another Reuters report, from 13 July 1994, states that the UNP and the SLFP accused each other of "being behind pre-election violence earlier this week in which two people were killed and at least 100 injured." According to Sri Lankan police, two UNP members died "after their vehicles were attacked with rocks by rival groups" (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Reuters. 13 July 1994. BC Cycle. "Sri Lankan Parties Accuse Each Other of Violence." (NEXIS)

_____. 21 March 1994. BC Cycle. "Police Detain Opposition Before Sri Lankan Poll." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Reuters. 13 July 1994. BC Cycle. "Sri Lankan Parties Accuse Each Other of Violence." (NEXIS)

_____. 21 March 1994. BC Cycle. "Police Detain Opposition Before Sri Lankan Poll." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

DIRB Indexed Media Review. 1994-95.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS). 1994-95.

Keesing's Record of World Events. 1994-95.

The Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. 1994-95.

On-line search of news articles.