SPC election on October 10

Chaminda PERERA

The Southern Provincial Council election will be held on October 10, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said yesterday.

Nominations from recognized political parties ended at 12 noon yesterday.

The period granted to the independent groups to furnish their deposits to the respective Returning Officers ended at 12 noon on Thursday. Eleven recognized political parties and six independent groups have handed in nominations for the Hambantota district. Fifteen recognised political parties and four independent groups have presented nomination lists for the Galle district.

The nomination lists of Deshapremi Janatha Peramuna and an independent group were rejected by the Galle Returning Officer. Fifteen political parties and three Independent Groups are contesting from the Matara district.

Two nomination lists from a recognised political party and an independent group were rejected by the Matara Returning Officer.

According to UPFA General Secretary and Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, a special meeting was to be held yesterday to discuss on how the election campaign should be conducted for the Southern Provincial Council election.

Former Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal De Silva will lead the campaign in the Galle district while Hemal Gunasekera and V.K. Indika will lead the campaign from Matara and Hambantota districts.

Over 670 polling stations will be set up in the Galle district which consists of 10 electorates and 761,815 registered voters in the district are qualified to vote at the upcoming SPC election. The Elections Department will also set up 442 polling stations in the Matara district which comprises 578,858 voters.

Over 485 polling stations will be set up in the Hambantota district and 421,181 people are qualified to vote.

* Eleven recognized political parties and six independent groups hand in nominations for Hambantota district.

* Fifteen recognised political parties and four independent groups present nomination lists for Galle district.

* Fifteen political parties and three Independent Groups contest from Matara district

* Total number of seats of the Southern Provincial Council (with two bonus seats) is 55.