July 18, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Marxist party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), today highlighted the necessity of building up a broad political force against political violence.

JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking at a press briefing, said that committees should be appointed to ensure the security of polling booths on election day.

“The government will definitely lose the North Central and Sabaragamuwa provincial elections – but at present the public is facing a democratic election,” he said.

“The time has come for all politicians to understand the importance of democracy and to work together in order to protect democracy. We may have different political concepts but we can work them out only if there is democracy in the country,” he added.

The JVP led two unsuccessful insurgencies against democratically elected governments in 1971 and 1988-89 in order to establish their own rule. Tens of thousands of youth were killed and national assets worth billions were destroyed during these insurgencies.