By Maheesha Mudugamuwa Sri Lanka Police has recorded a total of 42 election-related incidents of violence since the date for the parliamentary election was declared, Police Media Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratne told The Morning. So far, 30 people have been arrested and released on bail and three vehicles have been taken into custody, he added. Due to the coronavirus pandemic situation, the Police have noticed that election-related violence is at a low level at present, SSP Senaratne said, adding that they have already deployed police mobile services to monitor the situation, also during the election period, as per instructions given by the Inspector General of Police (IGP). In addition, the necessary instructions have also been given to all contestants and their political parties to conduct their political campaigns peacefully. Meanwhile, speaking to The Morning, Western Province Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Deshabandu Tennakoon noted that only a few incidents of election-related violence were reported within the Western Province as of last evening (23). Due to drug and crime-related crackdowns launched by the Police, election-related violence has also been reported to be under control. The Police will continue to monitor and control the situation, he added. Comparing the present situation with that of previous parliamentary elections, People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said, at present, there was a drop in reported incidents of election-related violence, with the exception of interparty incidents reported in a few areas. “We don’t expect much election(-related) violence this time, with the coronavirus situation in the country,” he added.