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Monitors give thumbs-up for election conduct
View(s):This week’s parliamentary elections have been one of the most free and fair polls and unmarred by major post-poll violence, observers said.
PAFFREL volunteers at a polling centre in Mirihana. Pic by Indika Handuwala
People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said the election continued a positive trend in the lawful conduct of polls.
It is a result for which the Election Commission, political parties, police and armed forces should be commended, Mr. Hettiarachchi said.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) concurred with PAFFREL’s view.
“This can be considered one of the most free and fair elections. Despite COVID challenges, the people have given a thundering mandate and it is now the government’s responsibility to deliver what was promised to the public,” CMEV’s head, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu said.
Election day violations included several incidents of a vote being recorded as already having been cast when a voter arrived at the polling station. “A number of such people were given dual ballot papers and allowed to vote after giving statements. Some went on to lodge complaints with the Election Commission,” CMEV said.
An SLPP supporter had been spotted giving a rambutan along with a leaflet listing the preference numbers of Gampaha district candidates to voters arriving at the Ganhinigama North Community Hall polling centre in Dompe, CMEV said.
A 14-year-old boy had been arrested for transporting voters by lorry to a polling station in Passara in the Badulla district. He was released on bail on grounds of being underage but the matter will be taken to court. In Bogahakumbura, supporters distributing leaflets for Badulla SJB candidate Chaminda Wijesiri had been arrested.
Dr. Saravanamuttu said there had been no serious post-election violence.
PAFFREL highlighted the need for campaign finance laws to ensure a level playing field for all candidates in future.
“Restricted campaigning due to the COVID-19 health regulations caused problems with publicising the candidates’ preference numbers,” Mr. Hettiarachchi said. “Those who had more resources could continuously use electronic, print and social media for campaigning and were able to publicise their preference numbers, unlike those who did not have such resources.”
Asked about violations on election day, the PAFFREL Director said there had been a few incidents of appeals for votes, illegal campaigning, transportation of voters, scattering of small printed images of candidates around the polling station, an assault in Mahiyangana, an incident of threat with a firearm in Kandy and more than 15 incidents of voter impersonation.
Leading politicians in Nikaweratiya and Akkaraipattu had driven vehicles in processions into the vicinity of polling centres in contravention of law.
Small printed numbers of candidates near a polling centre in Beruwala. Pic by Amila Gamage
Complaints PAFFREL had received in the lead-up to election day on Wednesday included six acts of violence and 147 other violations including 60 cases of illegal election propaganda and 33 acts of voter intimidation.
The highest number of complaints came from the Kandy district, followed by Kurunegala and Colombo.
Both election watchdogs said election law had been routinely flouted on social media. PAFFREL said there had been 4,439 such violations during the 48-hour cooling-off period before election day, and 510 such violations on the day itself. CMEV said candidates had continued to run ads on Facebook on election day despite the prohibition.