All set for PC polls

by Manjula Fernando

The Elections Secretariat will deploy over 75,000 election officers and 16,000 policemen for the crucial Western and Southern Provincial Council elections on Saturday from 7.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

There are 5,898,427 voters in six districts - Colombo over 1.5 million, Gampaha almost 1.6 million, Kalutara almost 900,000, Galle over 800,000, Matara over 600,000 and Hambantota over 450,000 who are eligible to vote at the forthcoming polls, a spokesman for the Elections Secretariat said. In a fiercely fought battle among major political parties with the opposition struggling to show its might after a series of humiliating defeats, 3,794 candidates have been fielded for the 155 seats in the two key councils by nearly 25 recognised political parties and over 15 Independent groups.

Two thousand seven hundred and forty three candidates are vying for 102 seats in the Western Provincial Council while 1,051 candidates are in the fray to secure 53 seats in the Southern Provincial Council.

“Despite the media hype, there has been a drop in election related violence,” Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said adding that the recent ‘political death’ reported in Dompe was ‘very unfortunate’.

Only a few incidents of assault and setting fire to property by rival groups have been reported so far. The Commissioner said political party leaders were making every effort to maintain peace and the response from candidates could have been better. Postal voting which was conducted on March 13 and 14 and again on March 20 for those who missed the opportunity on the first two days, recorded a 90 percent turnout, the Elections Commissioner said.

He said although PC polls generally record a low voter turnout they expect more voters at the election this time due to the government’s efforts and the Elections Secretariat to boost voter interest.

The Elections Department has banned canvassing near polling stations and the use of short message services (SMSs) for propaganda.

The polls will be monitored by seven local bodies with PAFFREL in the lead, having the right to station its observers within the polling centres. The counting of postal votes will begin at 4.14 p.m., immediately after the close of the poll and other votes at 6.00 p.m.

The first postal result is due to be issued around 8.00 p.m. and the first electoral level result will be announced before midnight, the Commissioner said.