Sri Lanka: Polls Chief under fire

Editorial, The Island

The UNP has trained its propaganda cannon on the Elections Department. With weeks to go for the Uva PC polls, it has declared that it has no confidence in Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya. The Opposition does not expect the upcoming elections to be free and fair, it has said. Politicians’ claims are not to be taken as gospel. They are adept at making mountains out of molehills and molehills out of mountains depending on their political needs.But, the UNP’s concerns about the gross abuse of state resources by the government for electioneering purposes and other election malpractices need to be appreciated. For, such offences give the ruling coalition unfair advantage and prevent the Opposition from improving its competitive edge.

Al Jazeera blocked in Lanka over election broadcast

Al Jazeera television has been temporarily blocked in Sri Lanka over its election coverage today.
Dialog Television is the main re-broadcaster of Al Jazeera television in Sri Lanka.
Sources said that the Doha based TV station was blocked today by Dialog Television following one of its reports on the Northern polls.

SriLanka NPC election: Assault, intimidation of voters, campaigning near polling station etc

Posters up today in Jaffna by pro Govt forces: "Are you voting for the TNA? Are you ready to go back to war?"

Northern Provincial Council Election 2013 – Communiqué No 8

21^st September 2013: 12 pm: CMEV has received complaints of a number of incidents on election day since polls opened at 7 am, including an assault, intimidation of voters, campaigning near polling stations and distribution of food items while canvassing. As of twelve noon there had been a moderate turnout in urban areas in Jaffna.

Sri Lanka- NPC election: violations and violence

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CNEV: Northern Provincial Council Election 2013 – Communiqué No 7

On 20th September 2013 / 08.10h/ Northern Province/ Mannar District/ Mannar Electorate/ Pesalai UPFA party office
As reported by CMEV monitor in the area, UPFA Mannar District candidate No 6, Mr. Robert Pieris, organized dry rations to be distributed on the night of 20^th September 2013.

Bid to scare voters foiled; No secret cameras, confidentiality guaranteed - Polls chief

Polls chief Mahinda Deshapriya has intervened to guarantee the confidentiality of voters’ identity following threats that they would be under surveillance within polling booths, hence their preference could be established.
Deshapriya rejected claims that hidden cameras would be allowed in polling booths to identify those voting for a particular party. Addressing the final media briefing, at the Elections Secretariat, Rajagiriya, yesterday, Deshapriya warned his staff would confiscate camera phones in case voters used them within polling booths.

Elections Observation Missions request EC to counter false propaganda re secrecy of the vote

Chief Election Commissioner  of India S.Y. Quraishi interacts with Mahinda Deshapriya, Commissioner of Elections, Sri Lanka (right) File Photo

''We call on you to make a public statement to the effect that ballots are specifically designed to prevent anyone from linking a specific voter to a ballot and that there is no possible way for another person to decipher to which political party and candidate(s) a particular person cast his/her ballot''

Joint Statement issued by Main Elections Observation Missions in Sri Lanka

SriLanka PC elections: Ruling UPFA misuse state resources and voter intimidation on the rise in Mullaitivu

Police vehicle parked at the UPFA office and policeman outside meeting at UPFA office in Mullaitivu

Centre for Monitoring Election Violence /Monitoring election violence in Sri Lanka

Northern Provincial Council Election 2013 – Mullaitivu District Situation Report

20th September 2013
Summary:
There is widespread disillusionment with the election process, which may lead to low voter turnout. Unacceptably long distances to polling center’s will deter others, since even where buses are being provided these services will be minimal and are not free.

Sri Lanka K’negala Police pasting election posters

Election monitoring group, Campaign for Free and Fair Election (CaFFE), queried at a media conference yesterday, whether the Kurunegala Police had undertaken pasting posers for a particular candidate in the Kurunegala District at the forthcoming elections in the North-Western Province.

Sri Lanka: Nepotism leads to misuse of public property in elections

Election observers say the main reason for the abuse of State property in the election campaigns, is due to the fact that a large number of relatives of politicians are contesting at the upcoming Provincial Council elections.

Sri Lanka: Wayamba flooded with unmarked vehicles

Election monitoring groups have brought to the notice of the Commissioner of Elections, that a number of unregistered vehicles are being driven in the North-Western Province (NWP), which they alleged, are being used to unleash violence in the area, posing a threat to law and order.

Govt. will take action against TNA election manifesto - Minister

TNA election campaign in Mullaitivu

Government Spokesman and the Minister for Media and Information, Keheliya Rambukwella, said the government will take action against the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) election manifesto, as it contravenes the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Disregarding the warnings issued by the Elections Commissioner and misuse of state resourses are continuing

TISL-PPPR to sue poll law violators

Transparency International Sri Lanka’s-Programme to Protect Pubic Resources (TISL-PPPR) says it is seriously considering taking legal action against those who continue to violate election laws, despite warnings from the Commissioner of Elections.

Election violence: Dayasiri's campaign financier abducted and assaulted by a ruling party gang

Intra-party election violence appears to have reached a pinnacle in the North-Western Province (NWP), with the main financial supporter of United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidate, Dayasiri Jayasekara, being abducted, assaulted and dumped in Anuradhapura.