Campaigning ends midnight Saturday

21 January 2010 01:45 pm - 30 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Indika Sri Aravinda

Campaigning for the presidential election will end on midnight this Saturday, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya said at a press briefing a short while ago. The IGP also said that temporary political offices that have been set up in the country will have to be removed by midnight the following Sunday (24).

The IGP also warned the public not to hand over their national identity cards to any individual, even the police, just before the election day as there are attempts by some groups to mislead the public to steal national identity cards. In the case of such attempts being made, the IGP advised the public to dial 119 and report the incident.

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Comments - 30

Thursday, 21 January 2010 10:06 PM

It will only work if a few radio and TV stations shutdown, until the end of the election!

Saturday, 23 January 2010 11:06 AM

Irrespective of any deadlines Rupavahini and ITN will carry out their propaganda campaign on behalf of MR and continue to sling mud at SF. It would be more appropriate for these two joints to be sealed from midnight till the the results are announced.

Saturday, 23 January 2010 06:45 AM

WHO EVER COMES PRESIDENT SHRILANKA SHOULD COME UP NOT CORRUPTIONS SHOULD COME UP BUT DEVELOPMENT.

MOHAMMED AMMER
MAKKAH
SAUDI ARABIA

Saturday, 23 January 2010 05:52 AM

All Srilanka needs a honest and strong leader with a determination to stamp out corruption. If that happens the country will blossom no end. The prospects of getting such a leaders is not in sight.

Saturday, 23 January 2010 05:21 AM

IGP please take action to protect all polling boots it is you duty as public servent.

Lot of people already have lost faith on you because you are a supporter of the president.

Police service has lost his respect.

Saturday, 23 January 2010 04:59 AM

may god bless the country

Friday, 22 January 2010 07:26 AM

why not police check the identity cards of the voters at the polling booth.

Friday, 22 January 2010 07:06 AM

He can be put to work removing posters after the 27th.

Friday, 22 January 2010 05:55 AM

Mr IGP,I highly respect your office,please keep the dignity of your post and Please carry out your duties IMPARTIALLY!

Friday, 22 January 2010 03:59 AM

Guys you need to select the best out of the worst!!

Friday, 22 January 2010 03:56 AM

The Manager and Coach can do all they like, but on the day, the match has to be won by the captain and his team. You congratulate the Manager and Coach bu reward the Captain.

Friday, 22 January 2010 03:44 AM

Lets not give the ID cards at check points, even in colombo. They better be happy with the license or other form of identity. "now that HE has eliminated terrorism"

Friday, 22 January 2010 03:16 AM

IGP is very quick to educate the general public on the closing date of the campaign for the Presidential Elections, but he is ignorant on the fact that removing election cutouts and posters is his duty!

Friday, 22 January 2010 03:02 AM

The war was won due to a collective effort of the armed forces and outnumbering the enemy, superior fire power, the international community for banning and restricting LTTE activities and also providing intelligence with arms / ammunition, the citizens of SL for funding the war paying higher taxes, moral and last and not least - after 30 years of battle LTTE was a spent force with limited cadres, arms and ammunition (due to foreign countries monitoring), desertions (Karuna Amman, pillayan etc...), fatique and moral. Thus the effort of MR is minimal. If you still vote for MR, then you are agreeing with disasters such as Mihin Lanka, Petroleum Heding Deal, Lasantha's and other innocent killings, Rupavahini fiasco, poor quality flyover bridges that have been built with a guarantee of 5 years only, state lawlesness in the police and judiciary, the public canteen at Temple Trees etc...make your decision sir.

Friday, 22 January 2010 02:55 AM

The best thing to do looking at things happening during elections here, is to,
1- Limit the number of day for campaigning to only 15 days.
2-Limit campaigns to only be through electronic and print media and telephones and mails.
3- Ban public rallies, strikes, political processions during elections period.
4- Make the non-declaration of assets a disqualification.
5- Make compulsory to temporarily quit any post held (public or private even ministerial or any elected posts) before giving nominations.
6- Make the Elections Commissioner, IGP and Returning Officers responsible for any malpractices which could have been avoided in their capacities.

Continued.....

Thursday, 21 January 2010 01:59 PM

SUDDENLY WOKEN UP TO REALTY, think if you did your duty fair by your oath.? What will be your status after 27th January, 2010, left to the decision of the NEW PRESIDENT. GOOD LUCK.

Thursday, 21 January 2010 09:15 PM

Mahinda Balasuriya, please make this statement to your 'big boss'!

Thursday, 21 January 2010 07:43 PM

Applicable only to SF, not to MR! We are just fed-up! Let 26th January come ...

Thursday, 21 January 2010 05:29 PM

After that the 'other-world' will takeover, under the command of 'Vermin.'

Thursday, 21 January 2010 05:22 PM

This rule will apply, strictly, to General Sarath Fonseka! 'Super Man,' will be campaigning till 26th January, 2010!

Thursday, 21 January 2010 04:03 PM

Steal Ids ??What utter rubbish the IGP talks.In other words he is saying that the police cannot be trusted as well as they might refuse to give them back.Whose side is he on now?
Really confusing.

Thursday, 21 January 2010 03:51 PM

I guess your campaign for MR will not end until you see the final result with stunning surprise. Better to apply for few more jobs.

Thursday, 21 January 2010 03:47 PM

Campaigning on ITN & Rupawahini will not be over...More election soap operas to come...!.

Thursday, 21 January 2010 03:32 PM

Last six months has been amazing! Although it sucks Sri Lankan Democracy still kind of works sometime.
(As an added bonus: If you know Sinhala and the caste/third class politics in Sri lanka, you should check the speech he gave in Ambalangoda after the war. Also the way he spoke about Upul Ilangamage recently. He behaved as predicted).
Chandare.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, the choice you make on 26th January 2010 is totally yours, for you, your future and the country.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RR

Thursday, 21 January 2010 03:01 PM

WHO IS GOING TO STEAL WHOSE ID's, good CID WORK BY IGP, JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION TO IMPRESS ON THE NEW PRESIDENT, TO SAFE GUARD HIS JOB, UNDER THE NEW REGIME COMING ON THE 27th JANUARY, 2010.

Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:51 PM

Deadlines will never make any difference. This government has shown it's clear disregard for the vital and important Sri Lankan democratic institution called the Election Commission! Our once great and proud public service has been humiliated and bastardized under this regime.

Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:27 PM

WHAT A JOKE!!! Has anyone TRIED ringing 119? USELESS!

Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:22 PM

But the State Media will carry on the campaign for Rajapakse without any deadline.

Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:19 PM

only for the opposition ,the government will intensify the campaigning after the deadline, I don't know why??????????????

Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:14 PM

I prefer vote to MR because under his leader ship we could save our country. He was maintaining other development works too for some extent acceptable. There are allegations raised up during the election period but to be proved. This is common to SF also.
If the war was lost and it was confirmed country was divided who will get the blame. Definitely MR not the SF. so it is unfair to give the main credit to SF. agrees he is the man of the match. But don’t forget the GR has done main coordination works between all without which these all efforts in vain. But still the captain is MR who will collect the trophy.

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Campaigning ends midnight Saturday

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