Election Commissioner, IGP to ensure violent free, fair presidential election

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 August 2005, 18:06 GMT]
Mr.Dayananda Dissanayake, Commissioner of Elections has summoned Returning Officers and Assistant Commissioners of Elections of twenty-five electoral districts for a conference on August 30 Tuesday morning at his office in Colombo to finalize arrangements to hold the presidential election. Government Agents are designated as Returning Officers of their districts for election purposes in addition to Assistant Commissioner of Elections, sources said.

Commissioner of Elections at this conference is to decide to get down foreign monitors in addition to deploying national civil groups to monitor the presidential election as it is expected to be a keenly contested poll, sources said.

Speculation is rife in Colombo that the Commissioner of Elections might announce the dates for accepting nomination and polling for the next presidential election at this conference, sources said.

Meanwhile, Mr.Chandra Fernando, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Friday held a discussion with Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in the provinces and headquarters in Colombo to work out a security network to maintain law and order situation during the election period, sources said.

All DIGs have been asked to ensure violent free election without giving room for any irregularities and allegation of political favoritism, sources said.