17 January 2010 10:59 am Views - 4709
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the police to step up security ahead of the presidential elections after a second political activist was shot dead this month, an official said Sunday.
The ruling party supporter was killed on Saturday in the north-western Puttalam district where several others were injured when they clashed with opposition activists, police said.
President Mahindra Rajapakse expressed his sadness over the second campaign-related death and urged police to ensure a peaceful run-up to the January 26 vote, his spokesman Chandrapala Liyanage said.
"The president is deeply concerned about the violence and has already ordered police to make sure that there is tighter security," Liyanage told AFP. "He is also appealing to all parties to ensure there is no violence."
Opposition activist Kusuma Kuruppuarachchi, 60, was the first to be killed in the poll campaign when he was shot in the southern town of Hungama last week.
Police also fired tear gas to disperse thousands of party workers in the eastern town of Polonnaruwa after mobs destroyed vehicles and buildings.
Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has accused Rajapakse's People's Alliance of inciting violence and using intimidation to swing voters. (AFP)