Posters, cutouts and banners prohibited except at campaign offices and meetings - EC Chairman

Election Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya stressed that candidates contesting the parliamentary election are prohibited from displaying posters, cutouts and banners at any location other than at their campaign office or place where they are holding a meeting. 

Speaking to the media yesterday (22) after conducting a discussion with state officials at the Vavuniya District Secretariat, the EC Chairman noted that under provisions of the Parliamentary Electios Act No.1 of 1981, candidates are prohibited from displaying posters, photographs, banners and cutouts along roads. However, candidates can display their party name, symbol at their campaign offices while those from an independent group can display their group's number and symbol at their offices. 

He noted that a legal campaign cutout should measure no more than 40 square feet if it is in one language or 50 square feet if both Sinhala and Tamil languages are used. A candidate can only install their cutout at the location of the meeting on the day of the meeting itself. "If the meeting is held at a ground then cutouts cannot be displayed on the road outside it."

He further noted that the EC will have to make arrangements to set up polling stations for between 3000-4000 eligible displaced voters in Mannar and Mullaitivu and those in Puttalam. He however, added that displaced eligible voters in Mannar and Puttalam will have to cast their votes in the districts where they are currently resident. 

By Romesh Madushanka