6100 candidates vie for 196 seats
SMS facilities for public complaints: [August 16 2015]

Over 6100 candidates from a record 35 political parties and 200 independent groups are vying for 196 parliamentary seats at Monday’s General Elections.

Polling will conducted in 12,314 polling centres island-wide, including in the seven islets in the Northern Province, from 7.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

The Election officials will seek the assistance of the Sri Lanka Air Force to transport the ballot boxes from the Delft Island to the counting centre on the mainland at the close of voting, since it is too far to reach by boat on time.

Additional Election Commissioner, M. M. Mohamed speaking to Sunday Observer from Jaffna yesterday, said they were deploying 125,000 staff on election duty and 70,000 for counting of ballot papers. He said the Department of Elections has made special arrangements for the public to notify the Department about illegal activities on polling day and the day before, via SMS.

The public can type EC (space) EV (space) name of district (space) and the complaint and send it to 2343 to reach the special complaint receiving centre at the Department of Elections.

“We will dispatch officials in the area immediately to tackle the issue,” he said.

A similar arrangement has been made for heads of Polling Centres to be in contact with the Department of Elections via SMS to keep the Department updated about the progress of their task, at given intervals. “These have been introduced to discourage malpractices and minimise violations,” the Additional Commissioner said.

All employers have been instructed to facilitate voting for their employees by approving adequate leave in accordance with the circular sent by the Commissioner of Elections. Meanwhile, Secretary to the Prime Minister has instructed that expressways to be kept open and vehicles allowed free passage from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on August 17.