WPC polls:

Parties agree to key changes

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Both Election authorities and contesting political parties have reached an understanding, with regards to some key changes, which is set to come into effect at the upcoming Western Provincial Council polls, following a meeting between the two sides on Wednesday.

According to sources, during the meeting between the Commissioner of Elections and Party Secretaries, changes to counting of votes, limiting the number of voters at polling stations to less than 1500, and increasing the number of polling booths to accommodate the new changes had been agreed upon.

Accordingly, counting of votes at the WPC polls is to be conducted at the respective polling booths itself, beginning shortly after the voting ends at 4.00 pm.

The counting is to be done in the presence of authorised party representatives, monitoring groups and election officials.

The final result of the polling booth is to be forwarded to the respective Returning Officers at the end of the count, after obtaining signatures from the relevant stakeholders present, by the respective Polling station heads.

In previous elections in Sri Lanka, the counting of votes only began after transporting the sealed ballot boxes to the main counting centre. As a result and due to some lengthy transportation routes, announcing of the results of certain electorates too got delayed.

But with the new process, election authorities believe that the counting at respective polling booths could be finished by 8.00 pm. According to PAFFREL Chairman Kingsly Rodrigo who was present on the occasion, the two parties also had agreed to limit the number of voters to less than 1,500 at polling booths.

To accommodate this new move, the number of polling booths too are to be increased accordingly.

According to Rodrigo, the Commissioner during the meeting had also prevailed upon the contesting parties on campaign trail, the importance of abiding by the election law. In addition the issue of identity cards too had been discussed at length, with the Commissioner informing the contestants to educate their voters regarding the need to prove identity to be eligible to exercise their franchise.

According to analysts, the new changes is expected to enhance transparency, minimise undue delays in announcing results, and save expenditure in future elections in Sri Lanka.