WPC polls:

Candidates receive preferential number this week

Chaminda Perera

Candidates contesting the Western Provincial Council election will receive their preferential number this week after the candidate lists and numbers are approved by the Elections Department.

According to Elections Department sources, Gampaha and Kalutara returning officers have sent the candidates’ names and the proposed numbers to the Department.

“The Colombo district list is yet to come. The Department has to go through these lists and the numbers before the approval is made,” he said.

The Elections Commissioner on Friday informed the IGP to remove all posters, banners and candidates’ cutouts.

The display of banners and cutouts other than at party offices and in the candidate’s vehicle is a violation of the election law and a punishable offence, he said. The IGP ordered all police stations in the Western Province to remove candidates’ posters and cutouts.

According to Police spokesman SSP Gunasekera, Police have deployed several teams of labourers to remove illegal cutouts, banners and posters.

SSP Gunasekera said the removal of banners and cutouts are in progress.