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.