General Elections: 29 Independent Groups pay deposits

Chaminda PERERA

The Janasetha Peramuna led by Ven Battaramulle Seelarathana Thera yesterday handed in nominations for Kurunegala, Puttalam, Gampaha and Colombo districts while two independent groups handed over their nominations for the Batticaloa and Nuwara Eliya districts yesterday.

According to the Election Secretariat, 29 independent groups have paid deposits up to yesterday. Acceptance of nomination papers from recognized political parties and independent groups for the forthcoming General Election began at District Secretariats islandwide yesterday.

The period granted by the Elections Commissioner to Returning Officers to receive nominations from political parties and independent groups will end on February 26 noon.

According to the Elections Department officials, the Party Secretary and two candidates whose names are in the first and second place of the nomination list could enter the District Secretariat to handover nominations.

In addition another person authorised by the Secretary of the political party or independent group can enter the premises, the officials said.

The Elections Commissioner has granted an hour after February 26 noon to receive objections over the candidature of persons contesting the General Election.

Meanwhile, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake yesterday said recruitment, promotion and transfers that will be made in the public sector, after General Election was declared by the President, is illegal and are in contravention of the 17th Amendment of the Constitution.

The Elections Commissioner added that he had issued instructions to Ministry Secretaries and Provincial Secretaries that they should refrain from recruitment, transferring and promoting employees in the public sector till the results of the General Election 2010 are officially declared by the Department.