It is all systems go as the nation elects a new Parliament today in the first General Election to be held in post war Sri Lanka. It is the second major election in four months following the Presidential Election in January this year.
The Elections Commissioner’s Department said all arrangements have been put in place to ensure a free and fair polls to elect members to the 14th Parliament where 196 members will be returned on the District List and 29 from the National List.
A total of 7,620 candidates from 36 political parties and 301 independent groups are in the fray representing 22 electoral districts. Together with the National List members, the House will comprise 225 members under the Proportional Representation system.
A total of 14,088,500 persons are eligible to cast their vote at today’s election which will be conducted at 11,155 centres. Polling begins at 7.00 a.m and ends at 4.00 p.m. The counting is scheduled to commence at midnight at 1,387 counting centres. Of this 20 counting centres have been established to count votes of IDPs. Counting of postal votes will take place first.
The first election result will be released by the midnight today or in the wee hours of tomorrow, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said.
The Elections Commissioner has deployed over 58,000 Police personnel for election duty. In addition, the Army will also be deployed in strength to assist the Police to prevent possible incidents at polling stations.
The Election Commissioner has taken steps to deploy Special Task Force officials at polling stations where certain incidents had been reported during earlier elections. STF contingents have already been dispatched to particular centres where violent incidents could be expected, the Commissioner added.
The Police along with the STF will provide protection to District Counting Centres, the Commissioner said.
Election co-ordination offices will be set up near polling booths on the advice of the Elections Commissioner.
Elections Commissioner Dissanayake has advised Returning Officers to set up such offices to prevent election irregularities. In a circular issued, Dissanayake has advised Returning Officers to visit polling booths promptly if they receive any complaints.
by Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE – source:Dailynews.lk