Southern Province poll:

Election date to be announced today

Parties hand in nominations:

Ten political parties and five Independent groups handed in their nominations for the Southern Provincial Council elections yesterday. Nominations were accepted at the Galle, Matara and Hambantota District Secretaries Offices until 12 noon.

The UPFA, UNP, JVP, the Samajawadi Samanatha Party, Eksath Jathika Sandanaya Boomiputhra Party, Janasetha Peramuna, Eksath Lanka Maha Sabhawa, Sri Lanka Progressive Front and Eksath Lanka Podhujana Pakshaya handed in their nominations in the morning.

All Independent groups had furnished their deposits by noon yesterday. There was tight security at all District secretariats where the nominations were being accepted, police said.

The UPFA nominations for the Matara District was handed over in the presence of Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma by the group leader for Matara Hemal Gunasekera while the party nominations for Galle was handed over by District leader Shan Wijayalal de Silva accompanied by Attorney at Law Champani Padmasekera and U.G.D. Ariyatilake.

The UNP nominations for Galle were handed over by team leader Bandula Bandarigoda.

The election date is scheduled to be announced today following the conclusion of nominations.

The Southern Provincial Council will have 55 elected members including two bonus seats awarded to the party or group obtaining the highest percentage of votes.

The Southern Province comprises Galle, Matara and Hambantota electorates.

There are 10 electorates in the Galle District with 761,815 registered voters. There will be 670 polling stations in the Galle District. The number of councillors to be elected from Galle is 23.

The number of registered voters in the Matara District is 578,858 and members elected 18. There will be 442 polling stations for the District.

Hambantota which comprises four electorates has a total of 421,186 registered voters who will vote at 485 polling stations. The District will return 12 members to the Council.