June 29/2016 yesith bimsara
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said that the parliamentary elections will be held under strict laws.
He made this statement while speaking to reporters at the Elections Secretariat in Rajagiriya.
The Elections Commissioner called on candidates and parties not to use the national flag or religious flags for election propaganda activities.
He added that they have informed private media institutions of the criteria that needs to be followed and that certain media institutions have informed them in return that they cannot agree to few of the criteria that have been mentioned.
Speaking further, the Elections Commissioner noted that, he can clearly remember the MTV MBC media network informing them that they object to a number of criteria that were mentioned and that they have to be changed. He added that, therefore, they hope to discuss these issues in the future.
Journalists raised questions as to whether the election activities will disrupt the GCE Advanced Level Examination.
Responding to questions raised by journalists, the Elections Commissioner said that the GCE Advanced Level Examination and the Grade 5 Scholarship Examinations will not have a problem.
He added that he requests additional commissioners to refrain from using certain schools as counting centres.
The following dates have been deemed significant in view of the forthcoming polls; July 3- 4 will see the commencing of accepting of postal voting applications. July 13 will see the conclusion of accepting of bonds. Candidates are required to place a bond of Rs.20,000.
Election propaganda activity is expected to concluded at midnight July 14.
