36,000 public servants deployed for PC polls

by Ananda KANNANGARA

[email protected]
 

The Elections Secretariat will also mobilise the services of retired Government drivers to maintain the election transport network at the highest level.

Over 500 Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) who have been appointed to supervise the elections will attend a pre-election workshop at the Rajagiriya Election Secretariat from August 18-20.

Accordingly, 300 AROs will be sent from Colombo and over 200 will be sent from the outstations.

Deshapriya said that Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake had informed party Secretaries on Friday about the decisions taken by the Elections Secretariat to conduct the election in a free and fair manner.

The discussions were held with the participation of UPFA Secretary Susil Premajayantha, UNP Secretary Tissa Attanayaka, JVP Secretary Tilvin Silva and CWC Secretary R. Yogarajan. Senior DIG (Elections) Gamini Nawaratna and senior Police Officials from the NCP and Sabaragamuwa were also present.

Meanwhile a spokesman for the Elections Secretariat said in addition to the National Identity Card (NIC), voters could produce their passports, postal NICs, driving licences and railway season ticket folders to vote at the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Elections on August 23. Deshapriya said that voters could also produce their temporary NICs by the Divisional Secretariats, Bhikkhu NICs and Senior Citizen NICs, issued by the Social Services Department.

"However, we have instructed all Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) and Senior Presiding Officers at polling booths not to allow any person who does not hold an authorised identity card to vote under any circumstances". Deshapriya also said if any person or a group of people makes an attempt to vote in an irregular manner, the SPOs were instructed to seek the assistance of the police.

The Elections Secretariat has also instructed officials manning polling booths to retain the temporary issued NICs in their custody after the voters cast their vote.