12 January 2010 02:45 pm
The United States has called for a peaceful election in Sri Lanka and expressed deep concern by the escalating violence surrounding the upcoming polls, particularly over reports of today’s fatal shooting in Tangalle.
The US Embassy in Colombo, in a statement, urged the appropriate authorities to conduct a full investigation on today’s incident and other acts of violence and to protect those exercising their democratic right to support the candidate of their choice.
“This is the first nation-wide election in a peaceful, united Sri Lanka in several decades. We hope that the election is conducted freely, fairly and without violence,” the US Embassy statement said.