Posters, banners taboo from public place

By Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

All police stations in the Western Province have been instructed to remove all posters, cut-outs, signboards, banners and party symbols of political parties, and names of candidates displayed at public places with immediate effect said the Senior DIG Elections Gamini Navaratne when contacted by the Sunday Observer.

He said police have appealed to all leaders of political parties, party organisers, candidates and their supporters to desist from displaying such posters, banners and cut-outs in public places that contravene the election law.

Last week the Commissioner of Elections brought to the notice of police that election posters, banners and cut-outs have still not being removed from public places even after the nomination closed on February 26.

Such posters and symbols of political parties can only be displayed at party offices or vehicles of candidates.

DIG Navaratne said Western province was a wealthy province and party officials and their supporters throw money to get their posters pasted on public places by hiring people.