Colombo, Jan 5 (IANS): Sri Lanka's main opposition candidate addressed the nation Monday, appealing for a free and peaceful election, as violations increased in the run-up to the vote Thursday.
Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena appealed to his rival, incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to put aside violence and allow people to make a choice, reports Xinhua.
"We have received information from reliable parties that various parties are planning to intimidate voters or mislead them. This must not be allowed. We must let democracy prevail," he said in his short speech.
Sirisena commiserated with at least six people who were injured when rival supporters pelted stones at a rally in rural Pelmadulla Friday.
More seriously, three people were injured in a shooting in Sirisena's hometown Polonnaruwa Sunday night while they were decorating a stage. One person is reported to be in critical condition.
"We have deployed a police special forces squadron to prevent any more clashes and are continuing investigations," Xinhua quoted police spokesman Ajith Rohana as telling reporters.
For security, 71,100 police personnel, including 5,000 Special Forces personnel, will be deployed, while 55 riot squads too will be on standby.
Sri Lanka's presidential race has become intense with multiple crossovers from the government to the opposition and support from minority Muslim and Tamil parties to Rajapaksa's opponent.
Nonetheless, Rajapaksa is still extremely popular among the Sinhala Buddhist vote base that makes up about 70 percent of the population and has been ramping up the ante by distributing handouts of money and even motorcycles as well as promising jobs.
Rajapaksa was expected to run largely uncontested when he called for snap presidential polls in November, two years ahead of his second term ending, but an unexpected rival appeared when his Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena joined the opposition.
The opposition is denouncing what it says are rampant corruption, nepotism and declining good governance. They have pledged to end the controversial executive presidency in 100 days if elected to power.
Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya warned thugs against threatening election officials, reports Xinhua.
Deshapriya said it was not new to see thuggery being used in an election and that similar incidents had taken place in Sri Lanka.
The election chief said people accused him of not taking action over an incident where two election officers were assaulted in the eastern town of Trincomalee.
"Am I to go and assault them or stage a protest? We have filed a police complaint and the police have arrested the suspects," he said.
Deshapriya said election officers were not shaken by threats or assaults.