Public demos, motorcades banned for local polls

Elections Department yesterday said that holding of unlawful demonstrations, protest marches, processions, mortorcades in the form of road shows and musical shows to promote political parties and the candidates at the Provincial Council election due to be held on September 8 are violation of election laws.

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya in a release yesterday said that strict action will be taken against the violators of election law.

Excerpts of the release: Holding of unlawful protests, demonstration, protest marches, processions motorcades in the form of road shows and propaganda rallies on the pretext of musical shows which will promote or adversely affect a political party / independent group or a candidate at the Provincial Council Elections due to be held on September 8 are violaltions of laws.

It is also absolutely prohibited to hold protest, demonstrations, road shows, motorcades processions musical shows propaganda rallies displaying of posters announcing such events on September 06 - 08, 2012, in the areas where elections are being held.

Similarly any propaganda or addressing the people using loudspeakers during this period is also prohibited.

The release adds that all the contesting political parties, independent groups candidates and their supporters are requested to ensure that they do not engage during the course of the election in any acts which will infringe laws governing the election.