The main opposition and the United People's Freedom Alliance are locked in a dispute over the fate of 1.9 million Sri Lankans who will require temporary identity cards to vote at the January 26 Presidential Election.
Whilst the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake, at the request of the opposition, ordered such IDs are authorized only by Grama Niladharis or estate superintendents, UPFA leaders are going ahead with their own plans.
Agrarian Service and Samurdhi officers have been summoned to a meeting on Friday at the Sugathadasa Stadium to be told how these ID cards should be prepared. The invitations were sent out on SLFP letterheads by the Maharagama Urban Council chairperson Kanthi Kodikara.
"I have been ordered by the Presidential Secretariat to organise the meetings," Ms. Kodikara said.
Meanwhile, Registration of Persons Commissioner A.G. Dharmadasa yesterday directed Samurdhi and Agrarian Service officers to refrain from endorsing temporary identity cards. He said the directive was given after the Commissioner of Elections ordered that only the Grama Niladharis or estate superintendents were authorized to issue the temporary identity cards.
"I had earlier issued instructions for Samurdhi workers and Agrarian officers to get involved in issuing the temporary identity cards to expedite the issue of these documents. But after the Elections Commissioner's order we have changed the system," he said.
The Elections Commissioner on Thursday said he had not been consulted on using Samurdhi workers and Agrarian officers to issue the identity cards. He said such IDs would not be accepted by election officials. |
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