Election watchdog complains of election law violations

An election monitoring group has complained of election law violations even before the handing over of nominations for the three provincial councils scheduled to hold polls in September.

The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) has complained to the Elections Department of election law violations in the Kegalle district of North Central province and Trincomalee district of Eastern Province. CaFFE Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon has said that six incidents related to election violations have been reported in the Trincomalee district while a similar number of violations have been reported from the Kegalle district.

He has said the violations in the Kegalle district have been committed by members of the governing party and the main opposition United National party (UNP).

He has noted that CaFFE has been receiving complaints of election law violations in the past four days and they have been reported to the Elections Department after confirmation. According to Tennakoon, the complaints were mainly related to cut-outs that have been placed in the two districts which are in violation of elections laws. Accepting nominations for the elections to the North Western, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa provincial councils will begin Thursday, 12 July and continue until 19 July.