Police security was tightened around the temple led by Jathika Hela Urumaya Chairman Athuraliye Rathana Thero yesterday, after the premises was surrounded by an angry mob days after the party announced it was quitting ministerial positions in the ruling UPFA coalition.

pic via: sadahamsevana.org

Rathana Thero’s Sadhaham Sevana temple in Rajagiriya was surrounded by unidentified protestors who alleged he was illegally occupying Government land.

Election monitors have referred to the incident as the first attempt at intimidation ahead of the proclamation of snap elections by the President.

Condemning the attempt to intimidate Rathana Thero, the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections said he had been at the forefront of attempts to field a common Opposition candidate at the forthcoming polls.

“In recent times he has emerged as one of the most important critics of the Government,” the polls monitors said.

CaFFE noted that it believed the incident was part of the Government’s moves to intimidate opponents and thwart attempts to field a common candidate.

The monitors said an unidentified group have gathered near the temple in Gothami Road, Rajagiriya. Police have dispatched a number of mobile units to the site to provide security, they noted.

The JHU MP has refused to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-election bid and vowed that there would be changes within the Government over the next several days, after the poll is announced.

Courtesy: DailyFT