Mini polls results by dawn

Irangika RANGE

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said the first official result of the polls for 65 Local Government bodies will be released to the public at around 10 pm on Saturday (July 23).

Addressing a media briefing at the Elections Secretariat in Rajagiriya yesterday, Elections Commissioner Deshapriya said the complete result will be released before dawn on Sunday. He further said that results issued from all counting centres certified by its Returning Officers will be verified by hand and by computer at the Elections Secretariat in Rajagiriya and then officially released through the website of the Elections Secretariat. “The electronic and print media institutions could obtain official election results through our website,” he said.

Meanwhile strict regulations have been imposed regarding taking photographs and videos at polling centres on the day of the Local Government elections.

According to these instructions the Elections Commissioner has given to Senior Polling Officers, only the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Opposition Leader and the secretaries of the political parties who contest the elections can be photographed, casting their vote.

The Elections Commissioner has instructed the polling officials to strictly adhere to this regulations or to face disciplinary action.

He urged the print and electronic media institutions not to publish pictures or telecast images of candidates casting their votes at polling stations. If any polling officer who allows their pictures to be taken such officials will not be deployed for election duties in future and they will be deprived of their allowances.

He further said that special attention has been paid on 6 divisions namely Kaduwela, Warakapola, Minuwangoda, Chilaw, Embilipitiya and Attanagalla where most of the election violations and illegal activities were reported.