It’s nomination day today

The Election Commission is in the process of accepting nominations for the upcoming presidential election.

Objections to nominations can be raised between 9 am and 11.30 am.

Forty candidates have placed deposits to contest the polls. 

Security has been tightened around the EC in Rajagiriya in view of nomination day.

8.50 am: Chairman of Election Commission R.M.A.L.Ratnayake briefs candidates on procedures to be followed.

9.00 am: Officials of the Election Commission began accepting nominations for the September 21 presidential election.

9.05 am: Namal Rajapaksa arrives to hand over nominations.

9.10 am: Twenty candidates including Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopage, the presidential candidate of the People’s Struggle Movement (Jana Aragala Viyaparaya), handed over nomination papers.

9:15 am: Two Buddhist monks handed over nominations to contest the presidential election. They are Ven. Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero from the Janasetha Peramuna and Ven. Akmeemana Dayaratne Thera who will contest as an independent candidate.

9:20 am: Ex MP P. Ariyanethiran who is declared as Common Tamil candidate from Northern political parties and civil society outfits is also at Election Commission to sign nomination papers.

9.30 am: Sajith Premadasa arrives to hand over nominations.

SJB leader Sajith Premadasa greets supporters on his arrival at the EC.

9.35 am: Wieydasa Rajapakshe handed over nominations.

9.40 am: Twenty seven candidates have handed over nominations so far.

9.41 am: President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrives at the EC to hand over his nomination papers.

SLPP candidate Namal Rajapaksa hands over nomination papers.

An election department official examines the NIC of SLPP candidate Namal Rajapaksa as he hands in his nomination papers.

9.50 am: President Ranil Wickremesinghe and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa handed over nominations.

President Ranil Wickremasinghe hands over nomination papers to contest the presidential election as an independent candidate.

SJP Leader Sajith Premadasa hands over nomination papers.

9.55 am: NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived at the EC to hand over his nomination papers.

10.10 am: Anura Kumara Dissanayake handed over nominations.

NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake hands over his nomination papers.

10:30 am: Former Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Roshan Ranasinghe handed over his nomination papers. 

Former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe accompanied by former Chief Justice Sarath Silva hands over nomination papers.

10.50 am: Thirty nine candidates have handed in nominations so far, Chairman of the Election Commission R.M.A.L Rathnayake said.

11.00 am: Nominations close. Objections will be received until 11.30 am.

11.05 am: Chairman of the Election Commission R.M.A.L. Rathnayake requests candidates, public officials and the media to abide by election laws.

EC Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake briefing candidates on the election law.

11.15 am: Large number of supporters of candidates gather outside Election Commission.

11.20 am: Mr. Sarath Kumara Gunaratne who had placed a deposit to contest election has not handed his nomination papers. Of 40 candidates 39 others handed in nominations.

11.30 am: The time period to file objections over nominations ends.

11.45 am: Independent candidates are being allocated symbols after nominations closed a short while ago.  President Ranil Wickremesinghe is among the independent candidates contesting the election. Thirty nine of the 40 candidates who placed deposits handed their  over nomination papers today.

11.50 am: Closing nominations for the Presidential Election, EC Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake says three  objections over nominations were received. However the objections were overruled.

12 noon: Presidential election nomination process ends. Candidates leaving premises.

EC chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake winds up nomination day proceedings.