News

News

2005 registers, IDs a must says PAFFREL
By Shelani Perera
With nominations being called for the local government polls, the independent election monitoring body PAFFREL continues to lobby for the use of the 2005 electoral register, instead of the 2004 register, and the national identity card to be made compulsory at the polls.

PAFFEREL Executive Director Kingsley Rodrigo told The Sunday Times his organization has gone to courts as the right to vote is a fundamental right.
“The case will be taken up tomorrow. We will carry out our campaign, as we feel it is a gross violation to deny a person’s right to vote. If someone turns 18 years after June 1 that person will have to wait for five more years to cast his vote at the local government polls,”.he said.

Mr. Rodrigo said his organization is also concerned about the number of displaced voters. Although PAFFREL has gone before courts to stop the elections, Mr. Rodrigo said that if the verdict is in the negative, PAFFREL will deploy its officers to monitor the polls.

“We hope to deploy around 15,000 officers but we have decided not to bring down international monitors. We will carry out our monitoring in all the provinces”, he said.

Meanwhile an Elections Department official told The Sunday Times that arrangements to send the polling cards to the Divisional Secretariats are underway. “About 60% of the work has been completed. Once nominations close we will send the ballot papers for printing and the other work will commence,” he said.

Top

Back to News