WPC election peaceful - Elections Commissioner

Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake in a message said the Western Province Provincial Council elections on Saturday was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and he wishes to thank all officers of the Department of Elections, the Security Forces, Police, Government Printer and Postal Department for helping conduct this election in a successful manner. The Elections Commissioner’s message adds:

“I am pleased that it was possible to conclude the election of members of the Western Province Provincial Council in a peaceful atmosphere. The Poll was held at 2,769 polling stations from 7.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. on April 25, 2009 in the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts.

“I wish to express my special thanks to all the officers of the Department of Elections who with dedication took steps to ensure that the large number of electors who were found to have been registered as voters in more than one address from voting more than once.

“Senior Presiding Officers of Polling Stations who strictly implemented the legal requirement that voters should prove their identity at polling stations, the voters who willingly complied with the law in this regard and the Grama Niladharis and Superintendents of estates who took prompt actions to issue temporary identity cards to voters who did not posses any of the valid identity documents deserves my commendation.

“I value very much the services rendered by Returning Officers, Divisional Secretaries and their Staff, all categories of officers of the Department of Elections and other State Officers and Election professionals in successfully conducting the election.

“I also wish to thank the Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspectors General of Police of the Districts and all ranks of Police personnel for their co-operation in conducting the election and also on the day prior to and on the day of poll to attended to complaints and provide solutions to problems that arose.

My thanks are also due to Police and Army personnel who helped to maintain a peaceful atmosphere on the day of poll, especially in the Colombo Central area.

I also appreciate the services rendered by the Officer-in-Charge of the Welikada Police Station and his staff by providing much assistance and security to the Election Secretariat whenever requested.

“Special mention is also made of the services rendered by the Government Printer and his staff and also by the Post Master General and his staff in the election process.

“I also value the services rendered by representatives of the various election observer organizations who observed the election process.

“I also wish to thank the Director of the Government Information Department for transmitting the results of the election to the media.

The services rendered by various media institutions and their personnel in giving publicity to the activities to the Department and making the public aware of the procedures in the election process from the time of calling for nominations of candidates and until the announcement of the election result is also very much appreciated.”