According to reports, three policemen have been admitted to hospital following the assault.

The incident has reportedly taken place this morning (Mar. 11) as police attempted to remove a cutout of Mr. Gankanda on display by the roadside in Pelmadulla.

Mr. Gankanda was later produced before the Pelmadulla magistrate's court and released on a Rs. 100,000 surety.

According to UNF sources, police are biased in exercising election laws, removing only the opposition's propaganda material.

The incident came as elections commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has instructed police to remove all election posters, cutouts and banners by today.

He has written to police chief Mahinda Balasuriya, noting there was no noticeable progress in the removal of propaganda material displaced in breach of election laws.

Mr. Dissanayake will meet representatives of political parties tomorrow to discuss this matter and other issues relating to the April 08 parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, supporters of two UPFA candidates clashed in Passara, Badulla, leaving one person injured.

Special teams had to be called in from Moneragala to disperse the supporters of Arumugam Thondaman and Vadivel Suresh, police said.(CT)