Presidential election campaigning ends today

BY E. WEERAPPERUMA

THE curtain will come down on political campaigning for the Presidential election 2005, at midnight today, bringing to a close the flurry of intense propaganda activities and setting the stage for voting on Thursday.

According to Election law all campaigns and work related to elections should end 48 hours prior to the elections date. Also steps have to be taken to close down party offices that functioned up to today other than the main party offices in the respective districts.

Winding up the Presidential election rallies Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, the UPFA candidate will attend the grand show of strength at Campbell Park, Borella today.

Opposition leader and UNP Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe will address the UNP final propaganda rally near Tower Hall premises, Maradana.

Election Department sources said that around 127,000 State officers have been duty-listed. They would be posted to 10,486 polling stations including those in the North and East.

The polling is scheduled to commence at 7.00 a.m. and end by 4.00 p.m. The Government will have to spend about Rs.20 million to pay those on election duty.

According to the 2004 Voters Register, 13,227,160 are eligible to cast their votes at the Presidential election to elect the Fifth Executive President. There is an increase of 400,000 votes over the last Parliamentary Election held on April 2, 2004, Department sources added.

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake who explained to the public via television how to cast their vote this time has requested all registered voters to go to their respective polling centres and cast their votes irrespective of whether they have polling cards or not.

The voting public are advised to use either a cross "X" or numerical 1, 2 and 3. Numerical No 1 is or X will be considered as a vote cast in favour of one's preference. Number 2 and 3 are meant to express one's preference.

But if there are two "X" or only the numerical 2 and 3, such votes will not be counted as valid votes and will be rejected.

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has given strict orders to the police manning polling booths in the 22 electoral district to use fire if necessary on those who violate election laws or try to fill, snatch, destroy or burn ballot boxes, instill fear in the officers working at the polling booths and counting centres and those who try to prevent people from exercising their legitimate right to cast their votes.