Death threats on Election Commission members Police launch probe

• Two members of the Election Commission received death threats
• Kadawatha Police and Slave Island Police had received two separate complaints 

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Armed police officers have been deployed to provide security to the residences of members of the Election Commission who received threats, police said.  Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that at least two armed police officers will be deployed to their security.  The Criminal Investigations Department has launched an investigation after two members of the Election Commission (EC) received death threats.   

They said the Kadawatha Police and Slave Island Police had received two separate complaints claiming that two Election Commission members had received deaths threats over the phone with regard to holding the Local Government Election.It was reported that members K.P.P. Pathirana and S.B. Divaratna were threatened with death if they did not resign from the Commission.

They reportedly received the threatening message on Wednesday evening via WhatsApp.   

Meanwhile, the incident was raised in the parliament by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.Responding to the matter, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the Criminal Investigations Department was probing the matter.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) had condemned the incident and calls for complete transparency in investigations.