Conference to discuss security measures held in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2008, 00:14 GMT]
A special meeting was held Wednesday at Batticaloa secretariat to discuss the safety measures to be implemented during the forthcoming elections to be held for nine local councils, sources in Batticaloa said.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Inspector Generals of Police (DIGP) for Eastern province Vasantha Nanayakkara , H.B.Herath , Deputy Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapiriya, Government Agent (GA) Batticaloa district Sunderam Arumainayagam, and members of the Elections coordinating committee.

The security of polling stations, votes counting office and the safety of officials arriving from outstations for election duty were discussed at the meeting.

DIGP Vasantha Nanayakkara addressing the meeting said there will be two police constables on duty at each polling station while there will be 200 police at the vote counting office to ensure security.

Meanwhile, the election campaigns by all parties and independent groups have become intensified.

Parties are holding election meetings and propaganda seminars throughout the district in addition to house to house canvassing.

Though voter interest is at an all time low, all political groups are actively involved in seeking support for their candidates, civil society sources said.

Life size cut outs of candidates have sprung up on either sides of Malady Bridge while multi colour posters of the candidates are plastered at various places throughout the district.

The candidates are involved in last minute whirlwind campaign targeting Muslim areas lasting till 9:00 p.m.

The election campaign is scheduled to end 7 March Friday at midnight

The Local Government Election in Batticaloa district is scheduled to be held on March 10 at which 101 members will be elected to nine local bodies. The election will be held at 285 poling stations and 270,471 voters are eligible.