Batticaloa calm ahead of election

Postal voting on Thursday and Friday:

Rasika Somarathna

Batticaloa: Contrary to early concerns on the chances of a free and fair poll in the Batticaloa district, the pre-election campaign in the Local Government election in the initial stages appeared to be proceeding without a hitch, election sources said.

On the eve of the postal voting on Thursday and Friday, the Assistant Elections Commissioners office in Batticaloa pointed out that all measures have been taken to expedite the process, and a meeting would be held today with the participation of all relevant parties.

According to OIC Sanath Ranjith attached to the special election monitoring branch of the Batticaloa police, only 19 election related incidents have been reported so far of which 13 has already been resolved.

Out of the remaining six cases the PA, TMVP and SLMC have submitted two each and investigations were continuing into these incidents, Police said.

Police have also taken steps to strengthen security by setting up additional road blocks and operating mobile police units 24 hours a day. They have also taken steps to provide adequate security for contesting candidates.

These measures, both by Police and the Elections Department, came in for high praise from PAFFREL Chairman (the largest election monitoring body in Sri Lanka) Kingsley Rodrigo who described these developments as very encouraging.

According to Rodrigo reported cases of pre-election violence was very low in comparison to previous elections and the organisation had deployed a large number of monitors including eight foreigners.

He added that PAFFREL would go before the Supreme Court next week to obtain a mandate on three issues to strengthen the election process.

These are to prevent the use of firearms for election related purposes by groups other than Security Forces and Police and also to ban the use of Government owned vehicles by the candidates in addition to seeking a re-poll in polling centres where there is clear evidence of rigging.

Rodrigo said PAFFREL was keeping a close eye on a recent development where the TMVP has come out with a complaint regarding alleged intimidation by the LTTE.

Meanwhile, SLMC General Secretary Hasan Ali said his party was concerned regarding certain new developments where both candidates and supporters had come under harassment.

He added that his party would lodge a complaint with officials and also request the Commissioner of Elections to appoint police officers from outside Batticaloa for election day duties.

TMVP spokesman Azath Moulana said his party was fully geared to face the elections while airing their satisfaction with regard to security and other arrangements.

Elections are scheduled to be held on March 10 to elect representatives to nine local bodies including the Batticaloa MC. A total of 270,471 eligible voters would be able to cast their ballot at 285 polling stations.