Sept 04, Colombo: Sri Lanka's government coalition party, National Freedom Front led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa, says that the party candidate for Trincomalee district for the Eastern Provincial Council election is receiving death threats.

Former MP Jayantha Wijesekara said that he received three such calls warning him to resign from the candidature. He said that the threats are from the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) members.

Wijesekara who elected first to parliament in 2004 from Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was a popular minor employee of the Kantale local council. Later he defected from JVP and joined Frontline Socialist Party (FSP).

He has reportedly attempted to join the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) but joined the NFF as he failed in the effort.

NFF decided to contest the Eastern Provincial Council election independently since nominations were not given to the party by ruling UPFA.