New voters lists out from May 31

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The number of voters in the Jaffna district will drop by over 300,000 in the new voter registers, said Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya.

The enumeration of voters is being completed by the Elections Department and the new lists will take effect from May 31, 2011.

The Elections Commissioner said islandwide enumeration has been undertaken after 30 years due to the terrorist activities which had prevailed in the country. Even this time, the revision of the voters list in Maritimepattu and Pudukudiurippu could not be completed due to the ongoing demining activities. The Kankesanthurai high security zone voters list is yet to be revised, he said.

Many people in the Jaffna peninsula had fled the country due to LTTE terror, he said. He said Muslims in the Mannar district had been chased out by LTTE terrorists and found refuge in the Puttalam district. They have expressed their willingness to retain their voting in the Mannar district while continuing to live in Puttalam, he said.