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EC: ‘Poll campaign notably peaceful’
Five candidates, 120 supporters arrested for election law violations
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Police had so far arrested five candidates contesting the upcoming 14 November General Elections, along with 120 of their supporters over various breaches of election laws, Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa told The Island on Wednesday (30).
Among those arrested were five candidates and 120 supporters. About 31 vehicles used by those contestants at the time of transgression were also taken into custody. Additionally, the police have removed over 500,000 posters illicitly put up by candidates.
Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake described the election campaign as notably peaceful and urged candidates to maintain the same high standard over the next two weeks. “Our primary issue has been the election posters, and we have instructed relevant authorities to remove them promptly,” he said.
Meanwhile, postal voting for the parliamentary elections began on 30 October, at polling centres across the nation. According to the Election Commission, postal voting will take place at designated government locations, including police stations, district secretariats, and district election offices. The postal voting that commenced yesterday will continue on 1 and 4 November.
Election Commission Chairman R. M. A. L. Ratnayake announced that out of the 759,210 postal voting applications, 20,551 had been rejected.
The Election Commission said that over 13,000 polling stations and more than 2,000 counting centres would be set up nationwide for the 14 November parliamentary elections, which were called after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake dissolved Parliament last month. Among these, the Gampaha District will have the highest number of polling stations, totalling 1,212, while the Mannar District, with the fewest registered voters, will have 108 polling stations for its 90,607 voters.
In the Colombo District, 1,204 polling stations will serve 1,765,351 registered voters. The Gampaha District, with 1,881,129 registered voters, will have 1,212 polling stations, while the Kalutara District will have 735 polling stations for its 1,024,240 voters. All in all, 17,430,354 voters across Sri Lanka are eligible to participate in the parliamentary election.
There will be 2,034 counting centres to manage the tally of votes.
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Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Russian House in Colombo unveiled a plaque at the public library Colombo today (29th April) in honour of the 80th anniversary of victory day.
Victory Day is celebrated on the 9th of May, the day Nazi Germany was defeated in World War II. It is an important date in the Russian calendar and an integral part of Russian culture.
The plaque was jointly unveiled by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Lenav Dzhagaryan and Ms Maria Popova Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and Director of the Russian House in Colombo
News
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
It has been recognized that the state enterprises should be re – structured and maintained with proper administration with the assistance of local or foreign investments without being a continuous burden to the General Treasury and the country’s economy. Therefore, it is the policy of the new government to introduce an efficient and accountable mechanism in the regard. An initial draft named “State Commercial Enterprises Management Draft Bill” has been already prepared to introduce a new legal framework required for maintaining after performing necessary restructuring and with proper management of government owned business companies. Thereon, it will be possible to totally free the state entrepreneurship establishments from political influences and appoint professionals with proficiency for its board of directors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to grant policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the said initial draft and appoint a special committee with the following composition to submit appropriate proposals for further enhancing after reviewing the initial draft:
• Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development – (Chairman)
• Hon. Sunil Handunneththi Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship
• Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co – operative Development
• Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Sooriyapperuma Deputy Minister of Finance Plan Implementation
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to appoint Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi, a special grade officer in Sri Lanka Administrative Service who served in the post of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Buddha Shasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, to the post of Commissioner General of Official Languages with immediate effect.
Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi appointed Commissioner General of Official Languages
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