Campaigning ends without serious incidents

Political campaigns ended at midnight Wednesday (18) without a single serious incident being reported since the Election Commission (EC) accepted nominations on August 15 for the 9th Presidential Election.

According to a statement issued by polls monitor PAFFREL that dealt with election-related incidents from July 26 to Sept. 17, there hadn’t been any abductions, attacks using explosives, shootings, threats and intimidation using firearms. PAFFREL statement collaborated with the ‘situation reports’ issued by the EC.

SJB leader Sajith Premadasa arrives at a public rally at Kegalle on Sept 17 (Pic courtesy SJB)

According to PAFFREL, there had been 63 confirmed cases of violence, 84 cases of abuse of state power, resources and public servants, and 787 cases of violation of election laws. However, there had been several cases of assault reported from various parts of the country.

EC has declared a 72-hour ban on campaign activity prior to the commencement of polling at 7 am on Saturday (Sept 21)

NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake arriving at the public rally at Ridigama on Sept 17 (Courtesy JVP)

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, is in the fray as an independent candidate seeking to win a five-year term. Among the major candidates are Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and JJB leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

SLPP’s Namal Rajapaksa also conducted a high profile campaign. Altogether 38 candidates are in the fray. Among them are former ministers Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and ousted Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe who dared to speak out against corruption and general shenanigans at the Cricket Board tolerated by those holding the whip.

SLPP candidate Namal Rajapaksa at the Ratnapura public rally on Sept. 17 (Courtesy SLPP)