Elections Dept receives 111 nominations

The Elections Department has received 111 nominations from registered political parties and independent groups to contest the forthcoming general election. According to unofficial sources, only five political parties and three independent groups had handed over nomination papers by Friday.

All major parties including the UNP, UPFA, JVP and JHU are yet to hand over nominations. Nominations will close tomorrow 13 at 12 noon.

The nominations of main parties, the UNP which will most probably contest under the United National Front for Good Governance alliance and the UPFA were being finalised even yesterday.

The political parties that have submitted nominations include the Democratic Party, Janasetha Peramuna, Frontline Socialist Party and Okkoma Wasiyo Okkoma Rajawaru Sanvidanaya. A spokesperson for the Elections Secretariat said the applications for postal voting will be accepted till July 14.

Postal voting has been scheduled from August 5 to 6 and the teachers on duty at the GCE Advanced Level examination will cast their postal vote on August 3.

The leading election watchdog PAFFREL said it recorded eight incidents of polls-related violence as of yesterday morning. The Elections Department Complaints’ Desk which commenced operations on July 2 recorded only one complaint, a spokesperson said.