News
EC reverses its decision to allow those under quarantine to vote on 31 July
By Ranil Dharmasena and Rathindra Kuruwita
The Election Commission (EC) yesterday said it would not go ahead with a proposal to allow those at quarantine centres or those undergoing self-quarantine to vote on July 31, as there were no legal provisions.
Addressing the media, EC Chairman, Mahinda Deshapriya said some parties had objected to the decision to allow those in quarantine to vote on July 31. Considering those objections, the EC had reversed its decision, he said.
However, the EC will try to help those under quarantine to vote by allocating 30 minutes, from 5 pm to 5.30 pm for them. Their ballots would be handled with extreme caution, Deshapriya said.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said that a number of obstacles prevented the commission from implementing its original plan.
“There are time and logistics issues but the biggest hurdle is the lack of positive engagement from the health officials and political parties,” CMEV’s national coordinator, Manjula Gajanayake told The Island.
Political parties in some districts had opposed the decision to allow those in quarantine to vote, alleging that it could lead to irregularities, Gajanayake said. On the other hand, health officials were not too keen on the Commission’s initiative, he said.
It has been reported that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne has been found dead at his residence in Athurugiriya this morning (17)
it is suspected that he may have taken his own life.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
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