Sri Lanka's influential Buddhist hierarchy on Thursday demanded President Chandrika Kumaratunga and other political leaders unite to end the escalating election-related violence. The monks issued a joint statement here after a second opposition activist was shot dead by alleged government supporters in the run up to the October 10 parliamentary elections.
The greed of power is leading people to resort to violence, Said the holy leaders of the Malwatte, Asgiriya, Amarapura and Ramanna Buddhist sects.
They urged the government to ensure that people were allowed to vote freely and without the fear of violence which had already claimed two lives since Sunday.
The monks on Wednesday asked all political parties to draw up a code of conduct for campaigning and to restrain their supporters.
The monks said that they were also asking the election commissioner to consider allowing members of the clergy to monitor polling booths to ensure that there were no impersonations or other frauds.

Bureau Report