In the final run up to the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial elections, the issue of inadequate security for leading opposition candidates came to the fore with a key opposition candidate sustaining minor injuries in the Ratnapura District.

On Wednesday, UNP chief ministerial candidate, Ranjan Ramanayake’s motorcade travelling through Pelmadulla came under severe attack by UPFA supporters. The candidate suffered minor injuries along with his driver as well as Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Dunesh Gankanda.

The attackers, four UPFA supporters, were released on Rs. 5,000 cash bail and Rs. 100,000 personal bail on Friday.

Following the incident, two police constables were provided to Ramanayake. That was after much letter writing and verbal requests for enhanced security. "Too little too late," commented UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake, commenting on Ramanayake’s security needs.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, popular actor/director turned politician, Ranjan Ramanayake said that it was imprudence that led him to get off the vehicle and board a UPFA platform but felt obliged to do so, when some UPFA supporters asked him to get off the vehicle and to take photographs with them.

"They were obviously my fans and I was not going to deny them simply because they belonged to the opposite political camp," he said.

The meeting was hooted and as the motorcade passed through Pelmadulla, it was attacked by a mob injuring Ramanayake and two others and damaging eight vehicles.

"It was a close call. The thugs had swords and batons. I thought a grenade would be hauled soon and we would meet our maker immediately," Ramanayake added.

Ramanayake’s incident is only a hint of things to come, as the desperation among politicians increases.

There is another candidate, a senior politician Siritunga Jayasuriya who has not been provided with security despite repeated requests.

It took a court battle for UNP’s NCP chief ministerial candidate, Janaka Perera to secure eight MSD personnel as security, despite his rating as being in the ‘highly vulnerable’ category.

Tissa Attanayake adds: "When the authorities don’t consider just demands, we have to invoke the jurisdiction of the courts. Even then, the security arrangement is weak. By not providing security, the government intentionally weakens the opposition party candidate."

Sabaragamuwa that was low in incidents of violence during the commencement of the campaign is now increasing its tempo of violence. Still, Anuradhapura takes the grand prize with both the main political parties resorting to violence and counter violence.

"It is a free for all. The two main political parties should accept responsibility for the situation that prevails in Anuradhapura," said Tissa Attanayake.

As Raja Rata begins to boil, UNP chief ministerial candidate there, Janaka Perera says there is systematic violence against his supporters starting from arbitrary arrest.

"Their defeat is eminent and violence is the only response they can think of," Perera noted.

"They did not expect us to fight back. We will create a movement to show the people’s power."

As the UPFA vandalised one office, the UNP supporters subjected them to a painful counter attack. "Finally there is peace. We actually don’t have offices of either party to smash, if elected."

There are other dramas as well. For example, UPFA Anuradhapura candidate S. M. Ranjith is facing a home and home fight. His office was attacked reportedly by the former chief minister’s security personnel, but the former chief minister, Berty Premalal Dissanayake prefers to maintain silence.

Ranjith is a popular candidate who is supported by Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapakse for the post of chief minister in the event he polls the highest preferences.

The level of threat and intimidation is so bad that UNP Anuradhapura District candidate R. W. Dharmadasa’s office was not allowed to be photographed by his anxious family members.

Petrified family members of Dharmadasa, checked our vehicle, asked for visiting cards and noted down the vehicle registration number, a clear indication of the fear psychosis that prevails.

Adding fuel to the fire is former chief minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake who admits to UPFA violence, but states that he could not be responsible if the UPFA supporters run amok. The violence is not our creation, he says. The UNP candidate must answer. The goon squads were brought from Colombo and now they are running amok, alleged Dissanayake.

Likewise, there are other speeches that contribute to the violence. JVP front liner K. D. Lalkantha openly claimed that they would resort to violence in the event the government does not control the goon squads that target opposition candidates and supporters.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, JVP’s Sabaragamuwa chief ministerial candidate, Chameera Koswatte said that there would be no de-escalation of election related violence. "The government is getting desperate. All four districts are looking bad for them. Naturally they are shedding blood to maintain their control over the province which will soon be lost," he noted.

Aiding and abetting violence and openly advocating rigging, Non Cabinet Minister for Power, Mahindananada Aluthgamage described a wing strategy to the people of Mawanella.

In his speech he openly declared the people would be brought from Kandy to Sabaragamuwa on August 21 and that they would do the ‘job.’ Aluthgamage had claimed that the government had the support of the police and the army and what mattered was not how the examination was conducted but whether one passes or not.

Given the rising violence which now extends itself to chief ministerial candidates, soon the entire country would be consumed by such violence, activist and lawyer Nimalka Fernando notes.

"At this rate, there won’t be any hope of conducting a free and fair election until and unless we establish the independent Police Commission and the Independent Election Commission. We will have to forget about our rights until the backdrop is created," Fernando observed.

The situation is such that Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has resorted to precautionary measures and noted that he would deploy the army in places that are likely to be violence prone.

Meanwhile, CAFFE Spokesperson Keerthi Tennakoon held both the UPFA and the UNP responsible for the violence that prevails in Anuradhapura.

"The two parties are not controlling their supporters. They are having a free for all. Naturally there is so much violence in Anuradhapura. Also, Ramanayake should learn to pick and choose. It is not advisable to address a UPFA meeting, even if fans invited," Tennakoon noted.

As campaigns end on August 22 midnight, there is every possibility that the days are going to prove bloody. And it does not augur well for the election itself which is scheduled for August 23.