UPFA up to old tricks, Maithripala complains to Polls Chief

Wednesday, 7 January 2015 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Opposition candidate complains to Polls Chief about fake ballot papers, vote-buying and military influencing voters
Issues warning about the ‘other’ Sirisena

Common Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena and other campaign leaders yesterday complained to Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya about the distribution of fake ballot papers in several districts around the country. Meeting with the Polls Chief last morning, Sirisena and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the ballot papers had been printed featuring another candidate with the name Sirisena and a symbol that was not the Opposition candidate’s official swan symbol. “This is being done to mislead voters. During this election campaign this Government never used my full name. They were that afraid. Now this other candidate named Sirisena is being featured to confuse voters,” Sirisena said following the meeting. The Opposition candidate also complained to the Elections Commissioner about the ongoing abuse of election laws by the State media. “The State media is violating election laws in unprecedented ways,” Sirisena said. He said State media was continuing to telecast speeches by the UPFA after campaigning ended at midnight on Monday. The Opposition Leader also complained to the Polls Chief that attempts were being made to purchase polling cards, especially from poor voters, for Rs. 5,000. Sirisena said the Opposition campaign had also informed Deshapriya about military influence in the election process in the north. “The military is visiting homes in several areas in the north and urging people not to vote or to vote for President Rajapaksa,” he charged. Sirisena said they were getting several complaints about this undue influence. Polls monitors have also warned about the military presence in the former conflict zones influencing or deterring voters. One foreign monitor travelling in the north, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said ballot papers had been found with marks made in the square in front of the betel leaf symbol of the UPFA.

Polls Chief bans propaganda on State and private media

Writes stern letter to media heads again banning telecast of specific ads, rallies and press conferences Polls Chief Mahinda Deshapriya has ordered that all State and private media cease the telecast of propaganda material to promote candidates after campaigning ended on Monday night. In a ‘most important’, ‘most urgent’ letter to all media heads, Deshapriya banned the broadcast of propaganda material or talk-shows featuring disabled soldiers, Government ministry or department officials and press conferences. In his letter, the Elections Commissioner also banned the repeat telecast of candidate rallies.