News
EC orders police to use lethal force, if necessary, to prevent poll disruptions
By Chaminda Silva and Pradeep Samarakoon
The Election Commission (EC) has ordered the police to use lethal force, if necessary, against anyone who might try to disrupt the September 21 presidential election.
The EC directive grants the police authority to fire upon anyone engaged in disrupting the election. Police have also been ordered to arrest individuals involved in such activities as will undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
The EC has said all those, including media personnel, who photograph polling stations and counting centres without obtaining prior permission, will be arrested. Media heads have been briefed on these guidelines, and stringent enforcement of the rules is expected, the EC has said.
Police have asked the presidential candidates and their supporters to refrain from entering polling and counting centres under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
A senior police officer said the police personnel had been instructed to use their weapons and act in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code and the Penal Code, adopting all necessary measures to maintain law and order and a free and fair election.
In preparation for the elections, a nationwide operation is being launched to apprehend individuals with illegal firearms and to track down illegal weapons. It is estimated that over 200,000 illegal firearms are currently in circulation. This operation will be conducted with the help of the State Intelligence Service, tri-forces intelligence units, and the STF.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
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