Vote early, says Polls Chief

by Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO: Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake yesterday urged all voters to turn up early at the polling stations to cast their vote tomorrow to minimise election malpractices.

Appealing for everyone's cooperation to hold a free and fair election to select 3,624 members for the 266 Local Government bodies islandwide, Dissanayake warned not to assemble in crowds near polling stations after voting.

"Don't get into trouble by doing so," he cautioned adding that not even candidates themselves will be allowed to stay inside the polling station if they have not received prior permission.

The elections will be held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow.

Addressing reporters at the Elections Secretariat yesterday, the Commissioner said 25,523 contestants were vying for seats in the 266 local bodies which include 12 Municipal councils and 34 Urban councils. Of them 20,251 candidates represent registered political parties while 5,272 are from independent groups.

The elections for 45 local authorities in the North and East and 22 bodies with court cases will not be held tomorrow. A fresh polls date for the 22 bodies will be decided by the Commissioner when all the court cases are over.

"We have to avoid the GCE A/L examination, the festive season and Buddha Jayanthi celebrations when fixing the fresh date to hold the election for these local bodies," the Commissioner said.

The Department has set up 8,829 polling centres islandwide to hold the mini poll and 11,037,763 voters are eligible to cast their vote on Thursday.

The turn out at the polls however, is expected to be less than 80 per cent, since the local election in general, is considered to draw less interest among voters.The counting of ballot papers is to begin at 8.00 pm and the first result, according to the Commissioner, can be expected around 1 am the next morning.

The preferential results will be released on the second or third day. The department has made open facilities to let the party and independent group representatives to accompany the ballot boxes to the counting centres and they will also be allowed to seal the boxes using their own markers.