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Candidates unaware of rules |
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2011-03-14 |
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There were instances in the Vanni District where even candidates were ignorant about the fact that a voter could mark his or her three preferential votes for the same candidate at local government elections, election monitors said yesterday.
For the first time in the post war period, the local government elections will be held in Vanni on March 17. Executive Director of the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi told Daily Mirror yesterday after a voter education programme in the Vanni area that some people too did not have any idea about their right to maark three preferential votes for the same candidate. (Read More) |
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IDP’s votes: SLMC meets elections chief |
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2011-03-14 |
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The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) had called on the Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake to provide facilities for Muslim IDPs who are residing in Puttalam and its vicinity to cast their votes for the upcoming local government elections in the areas where they were residing originally.
This request has been made by the party leader Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem when he met the commissioner of elections along with the representatives of other political parties last Friday. (Read More)
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LG polls: Politicians of all hues certain of victory amidst people apathy |
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2011-03-13 |
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Election monitors expect a low turnout when nearly ten million Sri Lankans go to the polls on Thursday (March 17) to elect representatives to 235 local government bodies.
As the low-key polls campaign draws to a close midnight tomorrow, the ruling UPFA remains confident it will retain the majority of seats in the local bodies, while opposition parties are hopeful of making gains too.
The Elections Department has announced that election propaganda activities should cease by 12 midnight Monday and party election offices closed by Wednesday. (Read More) |
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I’ll resign seat for SF-Jayantha |
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2011-03-10 |
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Newly sworn in DNA MP Jayantha Ketagoda told Parliament yesterday that he was always ready to resign his parliamentary seat, so that Sarath Fonseka -- whom he described as its rightful occupant -- could be reappointed. Making his first parliamentary speech in the House during the emergency debate, Mr. Ketagoda said that Mr. Fonseka had become a victim of today’s politics of hatred. (Read More)
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EU concerned about violence in SL |
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2011-03-10 |
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The European Union Heads of Mission are deeply concerned by the election related violence reported in the country, according to a statement released by the delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives yesterday.
“The EU Heads of Mission based in Sri Lanka are deeply concerned by the pre-electoral violence in Sri Lanka which has already caused two deaths and numerous injured. The EU believes that a peaceful environment is an essential pre-requisite for free and fair elections,” the statement said.
The EU requests the parties contesting the upcoming local government polls to act in peaceful and equitable manner.
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Sri Lankan election watchdog says IDPs in camps may lose their voting rights at LG polls |
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2011-03-08 |
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An election monitoring group in Sri Lanka says that people living in IDP camps may lose the right to exercise their franchise at the forthcoming local government elections. Executive Director of the People's Action for a Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), Rohana Hettiarachchi has told the media that displaced persons in camps may lose their votes due to a practical issue. He has explained that while people could vote for candidates within the district at parliamentary elections, they had to locate the local authority closest to their residence at the local government elections.(Read More) |
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Supporters of a former deputy minister protest against Sri Lanka Police for removing cutouts |
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2011-03-08 |
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A tense situation was reported from Sri Lanka's North Western town of Puttalam last night when a group of supporters of a former ruling party deputy minister staged a protest.
Supporters of former deputy minister K.A. Baiz have reportedly staged the protest against the police for removing a cutout of a candidate for the Puttalam Urban Council.
The protest was held in the Puttalam town.(Read More)
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SL calls for probe into NGO funding |
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2011-03-07 |
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The Sri Lankan government says the recent revelation that former Secretary General of the London headquartered Amnesty International, Irene Khan and her deputy Kate Gilmore received a staggering 533,000 and 325,244 pounds, pay-off packages, respectively, should prompt a worldwide scrutiny of NGO operations.
Khan, a Bangladeshi and the first Asian to head the AI, assumed duties in 2001.
During her tenure as head, AI targeted the Sri Lankan cricket team during the last World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007 over the country’s war against LTTE terrorism. (Read More)
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Campaigning continues despite cancelled polls |
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2011-03-06 |
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Despite polls rescheduling, political parties continue with their election campaigns in areas where local polls have been postponed.
On account of petitions against nominations and continuing work to clear landmines and resettle displaced persons, the local elections have been postponed in a number of areas, including one Municipal Council, nine Urban Councils, and 56 Pradeshiya Sabhas.
A total of 226 cases of election-related violence, including two deaths in Rathgama, have been reported from around the country, according to the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections.(Read More)
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Sri Lanka's major Tamil party wants the talks on Tamil issues held in a time frame |
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2011-03-06 |
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Mar 05, Colombo: A legislator of Sri Lanka's major Tamil party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has said that his party would propose the government to draw a time frame for the dialogue between the party and the government.
Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has told the Sinhala daily Divaina that TNA would suggest completing the dialogue within the stipulated time frame.
The third round of the talks between the government and the TNA scheduled for March 01 was postponed by the government citing the ongoing campaign of the local government election.
The MP said that the TNA would suggest holding the postponed talks on March 08 or 09, the days the parliament is in session next.(Read More)
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