SRI LANKA: ELECTIONS UPDATE NO. 9

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000040

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: ELECTIONS UPDATE NO. 9

REF: A. COLOMBO 36

B. COLOMBO 27

C. COLOMBO 21

D. COLOMBO 11

E. COLOMBO 7

F. COLOMBO 2

G. 09 COLOMBO 1152

H. 09 COLOMBO 1145

I. 09 COLOMBO 1139

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Classified By: AMBASSADOR PATRICIA A. BUTENIS. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D)

CONTINUING VIOLENCE
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1. (C)(Rel to UK, CAN, AUS, SWITZ.) Two persons were reported
shot and seriously injured the night of January 18 while
returning home from a Fonseka campaign rally in a small town
near Hambantota. Numerous Post contacts have expressed
concern about increasing violence in the remaining days
before the election, as well in the day or days following the
election, depending on the outcome. Conjecture ranges from
isolated acts of retribution to widespread unrest in the
streets if the opposition -- particularly the violence-prone
JVP -- believed the government stole the election or,
alternatively, Fonseka won outright and pro-government forces
went on an angry rampage.

MEDIA COMPETENT AUTHORITY RECALLED
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2. (C)(Rel to UK, CAN, AUS, SWITZ.) The Elections
Commissioner has recalled the Competent Authority over the
state media, saying that all his orders had been ignored.
Opposition representatives pointed to this as evidence that
the election would not be free and fair.

ELECTIONS COMMISSIONER SAYS HE
WILL RESIGN AFTER THIS ELECTION
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3. (C)(Rel to UK, CAN, AUS, SWITZ.) The clearly embattled
Elections Commissioner announced he would resign his position
after the presidential elections. He told us he had had five
heart attacks and attempted to resign several times, but
President Rajapaksa insisted he stay on because those in line
to succeed him were not Rajapaksa loyalists. This time,
however, the Commissioner sounds determined to quit the job.
With parliamentary elections due later this spring, his
replacement could prove to be a key position in that vote.

SPECIAL POLICE TO MONITOR BALLOT COUNTING?
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4. (C)(Rel to UK, CAN, AUS, SWITZ.) CAFFE, one of the local
elections monitoring groups, told post it had received word
that teams of "special police officers" would be deployed to
monitor ballot counting centers. CAFFE gave the Embassy a
copy of a letter it sent to the Elections Commissioner
complaining of this alleged plan, stating that the regular
police deployments would be sufficient. Other contacts told
Post they worried that persons would switch ballot boxes
while they were being transported to counting centers, saying
this had occurred in past provincial council elections, in
particular with boxes transported by boat or helicopter.

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES WAGE HIKE
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5. (C)(Rel to UK, CAN, AUS, SWITZ.) The Ministry of Labor
Relations and Manpower announced that all wage boards in the

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private sector were ordered to grant a salary increase of USD
23 per month to all their employees, to match an earlier
announcement of a similar raise for all public sector
employees.

EXPECTATIONS OF POST-ELECTION CURFEW
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6. (C)(Rel to UK, CAN, AUS, SWITZ.) Many local observers
expected the government would impose a curfew after the
election. The most likely scenario would be a curfew imposed
the evening of the election after the polls close. It would
likely last well into, or through, the next day and possibly
into the following day, January 28. Post is making
contingency plans to ensure adequate staffing for security
and essential reporting purposes. We will send a warden
message this week alerting the American community to take
proper precautions.
BUTENIS