Sri Lanka's Polls Chief regrets misuse of state media

Daily Mirror
.............................................................................................................................................................................................

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said yesterday the misuse of state resources including the state-owned media and the manner in which some political parties and their supporters had conducted themselves before and on the date of the poll was regrettable.

He said several incidents of thuggery were reported during the period between nomination day and Election Day.

“One marked feature of the election campaign was the competition even among candidates of the same party for preference votes.

However, it was possible to conduct the poll in a fairly pleasant atmosphere when compared with previous local council elections,” he said in his statement at the conclusion of the elections.

“Nominations of candidates for 301 local authorities comprising four Municipal Councils, 39 Urban Councils and 258 Pradeshiya Sabhas took place from January 20 to January 27. A total of 2,047 nomination papers were received of which 1,595 were accepted and 452 rejected for various reasons,” he said.

Mr. Dissanayake said some of the affected parties sought legal remedy in regard to 68 rejected nominations.

“I wish to thank District Returning Officers, Deputy, Senior Assistant and Assistant Commissioners of the districts who performed a heavy task in a short period in the midst of various obstacles. The services rendered by Divisional Secretaries at the Divisional level and Grama Niladharis at the village level have to be appreciated. I highly value the services rendered in managing the organizational work at the Elections Secretariat by the Additional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Accountants, Staff Officers in the Computer Division, Administrative Officer and the Consultants who have been assisting the Department at various times,” he said.

Mr. Dissanayake said the Police Department was called upon to provide security at all polling stations and to election staff; voters and candidates. “The Sri Lanka Police, which understood its responsibility in this connection, gave of their best in providing the security required. My thanks go to the Police Department, Civil Security Force, Special Task Force and the Sri Lanka Army for the services rendered in this connection. A word of thanks is also due to the Government Printer and his staff for assisting the Department by executing all the printing requirements in time and also the staff of the Ceylon Electricity Board, Sri Lanka Telecom, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Government Factory for executing our demands expeditiously,” he said.

“I also appreciate the services rendered by the Sri Lanka Government Railway, Sri Lanka Transport Board and Private Bus Operators by providing transport facilities to the poll staff and voters. Many polling stations were situated in religious premises and on private lands. I thank the owners of such premises for readily releasing the facilities,” Mr. Dissanayake said. “The officers who assisted in scrutinizing the results of the election prepared by the Returning Officers, the staff of the University of Colombo School of computing who facilitated the release of the results to the media and the Sri Lanka Telecom which provided the communication facility in this connection and helped in releasing the results to the public. The active participation by PAFFREL and CMEV and other non-governmental organizations, which rendered a much needed service in ensuring a free and fair election was invaluable and finally, I take this opportunity to thank the leaders and secretaries of political parties, candidates and the voters who co-operated with me in conducting a peaceful, free and fair election.”

© Daily Mirror