News
Commissioner General of Elections defends counting process amid claims of delays and discrepancies in preferential vote count
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The process of counting votes polled at the 21 September presidential election had been complex unlike in the past, Saman Sri Rathnayake, Commissioner General of Elections, told The Island yesterday (26).
“Even the last candidate had at least one vote in each counting centre. This means we would need more time to declare result” he said.
However, Rathnayake denied claims that there had been an inordinate delay in the issuance of results. “Given how complex and sensitive this election was, we told everyone that we would do our best to ensure the accuracy of the results.
The Commissioner General of Elections told The Island that the number of rejected votes had increased compared to recent presidential elections. In 2019, there had about 135,000 rejected votes, he said. This time the number had increased to over 300,000. “This is about 2.2 percent of the votes cast,” he said.
Rathnayake said they had counted the preferential votes for the first time as regards a presidential election.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake had received 105,264 more votes in the second count. Sajith Premadasa secured 167,867 more votes in the second.
“A lot of people say that so few people have cast preferential votes. However, you must remember that the 273,141 votes came from 25 percent of the valid votes. About 10 percent have cast preferential votes. We didn’t look at 75 percent of the votes which went to the first two candidates.
Commenting on allegations that officials at some counting centres had commenced the preferential vote count on their own without waiting for instructions from the Election Commission, the Commissioner General of Elections denied such allegations.
“We authorise representatives of political parties and election monitors to stay at counting centres until the process is over. There were 1,713 counting centres. It is also obvious that counting in all those centres can’t start at the same time. Some counting centres had more ballots to count. There are about 40 officials in each counting centre. There are also representatives from each party/candidate (up to five per each). There are two representatives from the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections and Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) – these are election monitoring bodies,” he said.
By 22 September noon, the Election Commission had decided to go for a second count, Ratnayake said. “If someone had left the counting centres before the process ended, that is their problem. They have not done their duty. The Chief Counting Officer can make his or her staff stay, but he or she can’t ask representatives from parties/candidates to stay in the centre. Parties must appoint responsible people. We have other things to do than run after party agents at counting centres,” he said.The Commissioner General of Elections said that he was very disappointed at statements made by some politicians who insinuated that counting of preferential votes started in secrecy.
The second day of the “Vesak Bhakti Gee Saraniya”, held in parallel with the “Buddha Rashmi Vesak Kalapaya” jointly organized by the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple, the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office, commenced on Tuesday (13) at 6:30 p.m. under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat premises.
The evening featured musical performances by renowned vocalist Ilyas Beg and the Sri Lanka Air Force Bhakti Gee Troup, accompanied by the Air Force Band. A Vesak lantern exhibition was also held at the venue. The event was attended by the Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya Temple Venerable Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thero, along with several senior officials of the Presidential Secretariat.
This Bhakthi Gee programme will continue today [May 14] and tomorrow at the same location. Additionally, a short-eats dansala is being held near the Presidential Secretariat for the benefit of the public visiting Colombo for Vesak, and will continue until May 16.
Meanwhile, a ‘Buth Dansala’ organized jointly by the Presidential Secretariat and the Sri Lanka Army was inaugurated yesterday near the Presidential Secretariat, with the participation of senior military officers. A large number of devotees from across the country attended the event.
In line with the ‘Buddha Rashmi’ and ‘Bauddhaloka Vesak Kalapya’, several Vesak programmes have been organized in the vicinity with the support of the Presidential Secretariat. These include the illumination of nearby government buildings and roads with decorative lights, and the display of Vesak lanterns, with the active participation of the Presidential Secretariat staff.
[PMD]
The French Navy Ship ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ which arrived in Sri Lanka on a goodwill visit (09 May 25), departed the island on Tuesday (13 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ visited some tourist attractions in the country. In addition, the Commanding Officer and a group of
crew members of the ship called on senior officers of the Sri Lanka National Hydrographic Office (SLNHO) to discuss key hydrographic matters of bilateral importance.
News
“Clean Sri Lanka” joins hands to Improve facilities and sanitation at Kotmale Regional Hospital
Following the bus accident in the Garandiella area of Kotmale, a large number of injured individuals were admitted to the Kotmale Regional Hospital for treatment. In response, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme has collaborated to improve the facilities and sanitation of the hospital.
Accordingly, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme actively worked to clean the hospital ward complex and the hospital premises, aiming to create a comfortable environment for the patients’ treatment and to enhance other facilities.
A notable aspect was the voluntary participation of the local community in this effort. The “Clean Sri Lanka” secretariat appreciates the dedication shown by the doctors and hospital staff of the Kotmale Regional Hospital, who provided emergency treatment to those injured in this unexpected incident despite having access to limited resources.
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