Commissioner urges candidates to ensure violence-free poll

ELECTIONS Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake called upon all candidates to ensure a free and fair election sans violence on November 17 when he met Presidential candidates yesterday.

Making a special statement after receiving nominations from the 13 presidential candidates vying for the fifth executive presidency, Dissanayake said the 2004 General Election marked the first instance after 20 long years a curfew was not imposed in the immediate aftermath of the polls.

He said that he hoped this precedent will be followed in the future.

Reading out election rules, he commented that the display of banners and posters in public places will be completely banned.

Police would take action to remove the existing ones.

Requesting candidates to refrain from using polythene for election decorations he said they should ensure that banners and posters would be restricted to campaign sites.

The Secretariat has made arrangements for Party secretaries to get voters' lists from the District Secretaries. - MF