Issue of identity cards:

EC decries adversemedia reports

State and private media should be treated equally:

Chaminda PERERA

Elections Commissioner Dayananada Dissanayake yesterday deplored adverse media campaign to the effect that the majority of voters do not possess valid identity cards.

Contrary to this misleading news reports, the Elections Commissioner yesterday stressed that 88 percent of total voters in the country have valid identity cards to exercise their right to vote at the forthcoming Presidential election.

He said 83 percent of voters have identity cards while another five percent of persons with identity cards have failed to provide details to the authorities.

He added that he cannot impose restrictions or regulations on State media only.

“There should be equal treatment to the State and private media during the election campaign or we should refrain from admonishing both media over this matter,” Dissanayake said.

The Election Commissioner said he cannot take any action against the complaints of abuse of State media during the past few weeks as no one was a Presidential candidate till yesterday though several political parties and independent groups forwarded deposits for the Presidential election.

The Commissioner said the Department issued special identity cards to the people who do not posses valid identity card for voting.”We have made arrangements to issue these identity cards to such voters again except in the Eastern Province”, he said.

He said members of the Security Forces and Police should give full details when applications to vote by post are made.

Over 14 million people in the country are qualified to exercise their right to vote at the upcoming Presidential election in 14,000 polling stations and no major changes will take place in polling stations other than in the Northern region.

He said the department at a special meeting scheduled for tomorrow will decide on how the election would be conducted in the Northern Province. “Our officials are closely monitoring the development in the Northern Province, he said.

He said the Government may sometimes establish cluster polling stations for the benefit of displaced people. “We will discuss the situation with Assistant Election Commissioners in the respective areas before such a decision is taken,” he said.

The department is responsible for managing the election and the Police and the law enforcement authorities including the Police should empower the election law.

The Elections Commissioner said all political parties contesting the upcoming election are given an opportunity to campaign in the North and Eastern Province and he will bring to light such an arrangement soon.

He said Police should take stern action under the Penal Code against those who violate election laws. “I believe that the Police will take action against the hoarding and cutouts displaced in townships in support of Presidential candidates”.

He said President Rajapaksa ‘s decision to remove all hoardings, cutouts and posters in support of Presidential candidates is noteworthy.

“The President has taken positive steps towards this,” he said.