Batticaloa Local Polls

Polls campaign ends peacefully

6,425 Police personnel on duty:

Rasika SOMARATHNA

BATTICALOA: The pre-election campaign for the Local Government poll in Batticaloa ended on a peaceful note yesterday, with the number of reported incidents of violence being an all time low.

According to DIG (Elections) H.M.D. Herath only 27 related incidents were reported to the police, with a majority of them being minor. Also none of the complaints has ended up in prosecution or arrest of individuals.

Election Authorities say that all is set for the poll to elect 101 members to nine local bodies, slated to take place on Monday, after a lapse of 14 years.

Six political parties and 22 independent groups are in the fray, seeking power in nine local bodies, including the Batticaloa Municipal Council.

According to Herath, all parties had agreed to a request by the Police to remove banners and hoardings and posters too are to be taken off in accordance with the election law.

He also added that in the case of relevant parties failing to adhere to the condition, the Police would have to resort to force in order to remove the propaganda material.

Herath also added that the Police along with the Security Forces had laid out a comprehensive security plan on the polling day with a total strength of 6,425 officers being deployed for duties. According to authorities special transport arrangements have been laid with the assistance of both the Government and private sectors on the election day.

Meanwhile, the largest election monitoring body in the country PAFFREL said that all measures were afoot, with regard to their monitoring process on the election day.

PAFFREL has deployed more than 300 monitors including 20 foreign observers and is expected to present their final report after the elections on Monday.

The Batticaloa district consists of 12 local bodies out of which elections were held for three Pradeshiya Sabhas in 2006. The election slated to take place on March 10 is expected to complete the process by electing representatives to the rest including the Batticaloa Municipal Council.