Even as the government deployed a 20,000 strong contingent of security personnel and 15,000 poll officers to oversee the provincial elections, 17 international poll observers arrived at the Eastern districts of Ampara, Batticaola and Trincomalee to monitor the elections in these regions1. The National Peace Council has alleged that the campaigning for elections have been carried out under a security environment which was not conducive for free and fair elections2.

The Sri Lankan government has also launched a tirade against the LTTE front organizations working internationally. Colombo’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations linked the failure of the government to sustain peace to the continuing transfer of illicit arms to the rebels. He called on the international community to take action under international law and curb these activities3. In a related development, the British police arrested four men for supporting LTTE cause under the British terrorism Act4. The LTTE on its part made an attempt to sink a cargo ship docked in the Trincomalee harbour during the week. Also, 11 people were killed and 29 injured in a bomb explosion in Ampara district5.

• 1. “International monitors for Eastern Provincial polls arrive in Sri Lanka,” Colombo Page, May 5, 2008, at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/May5113941CH.html
• 2. “Eastern election must not lead to further alienation says Sri Lanka's National Peace Council,” Colombo Page , May 8, 2008, at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/May8172806SL.html
• 3. “Sri Lanka seeks international help to stop arms flow to rebels,” Colombo Page, May 5, 2008, at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/May5115710CH.html
• 4. “Four Tiger suspects charged in UK,” Daily News, May 9, 2008, at http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/05/09/sec01.asp
• 5. “Tamil Tiger bomb attacks fail to disrupt polls in Eastern Sri Lanka,” Colombo Page, May 10, 2008, at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/May1051400CH.html