Cost for Presidential election likely to exceed Rs 7.5 billion

The Election Commission (EC) today (Nov 13) said the cost for this year's presidential election on Saturday is likely to exceed Rs 7.5 billion.

Longer ballot papers, larger polling centres, and additional ballot boxes will be used for the poll due to the record number of 35 candidates contesting the election.

“We are spending money carefully,” EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told reporters today.

Deshapriya cracked his whip on the media stating that the EC would move court against state media outlets which flouted laws on providing equal coverage to all presidential candidates.

“There has been no previous election during which the media has acted poorly,” he observed while warning that some media outlets could lose their rights to broadcast election results due to the same reason.

Meanwhile, the EC has requested Facebook Inc. to remove paid political advertisements and sponsored election-related pages during the ‘Silent Period’ starting from midnight.

“However, there are differences between our (policy) standards and theirs. Therefore, it will take some time,” Deshapriya explained.

All political activities promoting presidential candidates will come to an end at midnight marking the beginning of the two-day silent period.

“Election offices cannot function from midnight. All cut-outs at these offices should be removed,” the polls chief declared.

Commenting on the presidential campaign, Deshapriya observed that there was less violence, but lamented over the conduct of certain tuition teachers and religious leaders.

He pointed out that some teachers had promoted certain presidential candidates during classes, while some religious leaders had conducted themselves similarly during sermons.

“Whatever has been done should stop today,” the EC Chairman urged. “We regret that politics is being used in religious activities”

The EC tightened its noose on state servants for absconding election duties without a valid reason, stating that they could face a penalty of Rs 100,000 and a jail term upto three years.

In keeping with the silent period, Deshapriya said he has written to the Acting Police Chief to vacate places in which hunger strikes are taking place.

Accordingly, Ven. Dr. Inguruwatte Sumangala Thera who commenced a fast at the Independence Square in Colombo demanding presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to prove that he has renounced his US citizenship is also expected to end his protest today.