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Eastern Province primed for PC Poll

Colombo: Elections and security authorities said yesterday that all arrangements were in place for a free and fair poll in the East, which would take place at 1,022 centres in Trincomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa districts tomorrow.

According to authorities strong measures are to be taken in the case of serious violations which would be categorised as having a significant impact on the result even leading to the annulment of the poll in the affected area or centre.

A senior official of the Elections Department said the decision regarding such action would be taken by the Commissioner of Elections after a careful study.

While acknowledging that over 98 per cent of the polling cards had been delivered authorities said that voters who had not received cards so far could obtain them even on the election day or use their identification papers to get the ballot papers at the polling station.


Elections workers carrying ballot boxes.
Picture by Indrajith Perera

Meanwhile, the PC poll in the East is set to see the biggest ever manpower deployment for a single province in the annals of Sri Lankan elections, with a 35,000 strong contingent being deployed for election duties.

The main election watchdog in the country PAFFREL is set to deploy over 2,500 observers on election day which would include a team of international monitors numbering over 20.

The PAFFREL would include two members each for every polling station, in addition to mobile patrols, and also set up four offices in the three districts to man the poll sources said.

Meanwhile the Police have recorded over 50 elected related violations so far with most of them categorised as minor in nature.

However strict orders has been given to all officers to use force if necessary to ensure law and order on the election day sources said.

According to authorities, over 20,000 security personnel and around 15,000 polls officers would be used on the D-day. DIG Rienzie Perera said that a 10,000 strong security contingent would be used for polling duties in the Ampara district which houses the largest number of voters 409,308.

In Ampara 6578 officer would be used to man polling duties said Asst. Commissioner L.D. Tennakoon with 430 polling centres set up in the entire district.

Eleven political parties and 22 independent groups have joined the race with 403 candidates in the fray to grab a slot among the 14 elected members from the Ampara district.

According to DIG H.M.D. Herath all measures were afoot to provide adequate security for elections with over 6,500 security personnel being deployed on the election day in Batticaloa.

Election Authorities have planned to deploy over 4500 officers on the polling day in the Batticaloa district which houses 330,950 voters who would elect 11 members to the Eastern PC. According to Asst.Elections.Commissioner for Trincomalee Bandara Mapa over 3000 officers would be used for polling duties with 284 centres being set up to cater to 242,463 voters in the district.

Trincomalee would elect 10 members for the Eastern PC out of 561 contestants who are in the fray.

According to DIG Upali Gunasekera who oversees election security in the district only 11 related incidents has been reported so far with all of them being minor.

However security has been beefed up to meet any eventuality the DIG said while emphasising that strict orders had been relayed to all officers to carry out duties without fear or favour.

The election to appoint 37 members for the Eastern PC would be conducted in the three districts on May 10 at 1,022 polling centres, with a total of 1342 candidates in the fray from 18 political parties and 73 independent groups.

***

Eastern liquor stores closed

All liquor stores and bars in the Eastern Province (Ampara, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts) will be closed from today until Sunday in view of the Provincial Council Election to be held tomorrow, Excise Commissioner General D.G.M.V. Hapuarachchi said.

 

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