(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –While promising strict legal action against those who violate election laws at the upcoming Local Government polls, Police Media Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara yesterday said cases filed in court will be backed by modern technology such as video footage.
Speaking to the media in Colombo, Gunasekera said Police will file cases immediately against such violations in order to punish perpetrators at the earliest.
Gunasekara also said that stern legal action will be taken against any election campaign or related activity such as processions, demonstrations and parades that will disturb the students sitting the GCE Ordinary Level Examination during the same dates where nominations have been called for from all the 341 councils.
Gunasekara said that persons involved in such activities will be taken in to custody.
The Police Media Spokesman also pointed out that 10,000 Police officers will be deployed for election duty during December 11 to 14, in the duration which nominations have been called for from 93 Local Government councils.
Gunasekara was speaking at a media brief held at the Police Headquarters, Colombo.
He also said that Police will not issue licenses to use of loudspeakers for election campaign meetings which are held in the vicinity of O/L examination halls. Gunasekara requested the organisers to act with care when choosing locations to hold election campaign meetings.
He also reminded that processions are prohibited during the entire election period as well.
Gunasekara said that Senior DIG (Administration) C.D. Wickremeratne has been appointed as the Chief Officer in charge over election duty for the upcoming LG polls. Gunasekara also said that a Police Election Secretariat Office has been established at the Police Headquarters.
Forty two Police Divisional Eelection Offices have also been established as well.
SP Gunasekara said posters and flags representing political parties can only be displayed on a vehicle occupied by a candidate and at election campaign meetings. “Only the persons who have received permission to go inside the District Secretariats should go in to handover the nominations. Others should stay back and not disturb the related activities or the general public,” he added. Additional Elections Commissioner M.M. Mohommad and Director Information technology Division Superintendent of Police Ashoka Dharmasena were also present.
