8.3.2008
6,425 Police personnel on duty:
The pre-election campaign for the Local Government poll
in Batticaloa ended on a peaceful note yesterday, with
the number of reported incidents of violence being an
all time low.
According
to DIG (Elections) H.M.D. Herath only 27 related incidents
were reported to the police, with a majority of them being
minor. Also none of the complaints has ended up in prosecution
or arrest of individuals.
Election
Authorities say that all is set for the poll to elect
101 members to nine local bodies, slated to take place
on Monday, after a lapse of 14 years.
Six
political parties and 22 independent groups are in the
fray, seeking power in nine local bodies, including the
Batticaloa Municipal Council.
According
to Herath, all parties had agreed to a request by the
Police to remove banners and hoardings and posters too
are to be taken off in accordance with the election law.
He
also added that in the case of relevant parties failing
to adhere to the condition, the Police would have to resort
to force in order to remove the propaganda material.
Herath
also added that the Police along with the Security Forces
had laid out a comprehensive security plan on the polling
day with a total strength of 6,425 officers being deployed
for duties. According to authorities special transport
arrangements have been laid with the assistance of both
the Government and private sectors on the election day.
Meanwhile,
the largest election monitoring body in the country PAFFREL
said that all measures were afoot, with regard to their
monitoring process on the election day.
PAFFREL
has deployed more than 300 monitors including 20 foreign
observers and is expected to present their final report
after the elections on Monday.
The
Batticaloa district consists of 12 local bodies out of
which elections were held for three Pradeshiya Sabhas
in 2006. The election slated to take place on March 10
is expected to complete the process by electing representatives
to the rest including the Batticaloa Municipal Council
Courtesy - Daily
news