Polls candidates who disrupt AL exam will be arrested

by Manjula Fernando

The police have been ordered to arrest polls candidates who disrupt the GCE AL examination while campaigning. Hence, the use of loudspeakers, house-to-house campaigning and processions have been banned from August 5 - 31, a spokesperson for the Elections Secretariat said.

Elections Commissioner General Mahinda Deshapriya has instructed the police to ensure that the law will not be breached by the candidates in the three provinces – North, North Western and Central - where polls to elect members for the Provincial Councils will be held in late September.

The elections date is likely to be fixed for September 21 or 28. The date will be announced at the close of the week-long nominations on August 1.

Deshapriya met the IGP, Commissioner General of Examinations and Political Party Leaders on Friday at 3 pm to discuss the conduct of the polls. The ethics for candidates, conduct of the GCE AL examination without disruption, steps to prevent the misuse of state resources and the media were discussed at the meeting. Local election monitors, PAFFREL, CMEV and representatives of certain groups including the TMVP met the Elections chief at a separate meeting on Friday to discuss matters relating to polls monitoring and other issues.

A list of guidelines for the media will be issued to all state and private media institutions next week by the Elections Secretariat to prevent the misuse of media during the campaign period.

UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha, Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, UNP MP Joseph Michael Perera, SLMC MP Hasan Ali, TNA paliamentarians, M.A. Sumanthiran, Suresh Premachandran, Mavai Senathirajah, MP Sri Ranga, Dr. Wickremabhahu Karunaratne and Ven. Battaramulle Seelaratana Thera were among the party representatives who met the Elections Chief yesterday.