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.
Members of the South Asian Journalists Forum have gathered at the University of New Delhi for a two day conference themed ‘Peace and Co-operation’.
Journalists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India are attending the conference hosted by the University of Delhi in collaboration with the India Chapter of SJF, and will deliberate on how the media can act as a catalyst for regional stability and mutual coexsistence.
A tree plantation campaign was also held at the Ghandi Bhawan premises of the University to mark the event and symbolize growing regional ties.
The Sri Lanka delegation is led by President of SJF’s Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.
The Governor of the of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursdy [February 05] at the Parliamentary Complex to discuss the arrangements related to the exposition of the Devnimori Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, which have been brought to Sri Lanka under the patronage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India.
These sacred relics of Lord Buddha were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Until now, these relics had never been taken outside India. As a result of discussions held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the people of Sri Lanka have been granted this rare opportunity to venerate these sacred relics.
The exposition of the relics is being held for a period of seven days, from February 05 to February 11, at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo. Discussions were held between both parties regarding the arrangements related to this event.
The discussion was attended by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture; Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka; Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation; along with several others.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) GHARIAL made a port call in Colombo for operational turnarounds on 04 Feb 26. The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.
Commanded by Commander Gaurav Tewari, INS GHARIAL is a vessel with a length of 124.8 meters.
During this visit, ten (10) Bailey Bridges, brought by ship, through the coordination of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, will be handed over to the Disaster Management Center. These bridges will provide temporary transportation links while bridges damaged across the island by adverse weather conditions are repaired.
The crew’s itinerary features scheduled goodwill activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside visits to several tourist attractions across the island.
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