All Set For Electing The Sixth Executive President- Commissioner of Elections

“There is nothing to worry about the security at the polling booths. Necessary security has been beefed up for the Presidential Election on January 26th to elect the Sri Lanka’s sixth executive president,” said Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake addressing the media at his office yesterday (January 22).

“If everything went smoothly as we have arranged, there will be no delay in releasing the final result. We hope to release the final result of the election on the following day - by January 27th morning”, the Commissioner anounced at a well attended press briefing.

He also said that already 40 election monitors from 13 Asian countries have arrived to monitor the Presidential election and their supervision and reports will be very important for the country’s democracy.

The Commissioner of Elections emphasized that a valid identity card is a must at the polling booths. Election Commissioner also said that according to reports, that 84.57 percent of voters have National Identity Cards (NICs) and around five percent have some kind of acceptable and valid identity documents. “Accordingly, almost 90 percent of the voters have identity cards”, Commissioner Dissanayake added.

Speaking about the voting opportunities for internally displaced persons, Commissioner Dissanayake said that 45, 632 IDPs are qualified for voting in several identified election centers. “The relevant returning officers have already been instructed and they will arrange the process”, he said.

He also added that transportation had been arranged for voters in the North during polling hours. In Vavuniya a special office has been set up to coordinate activities in the northern areas, he said.

Propaganda campaign for the presidential election will conclude by midnight today (January 23) and also all the campaigning offices must have to be dismantled by today midnight.

“A candidate or a party can operate only one election office for a polling division. That office too should be operated 500 meters away from the polling booths in the area”, he further added.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya addressing the media said that he had directed his officials to take stern action against people who do not comply with police orders by not removing the cut-outs, posters and banners irrespective of political parties by today’s deadline.

‘Those who violated the Police orders will be taken into custody and produced before Court”, IGP Balasuriya pointed out.

- Asian Tribune -