Tight police security for postal voting, on Oct. 31 and Nov.1

• Cop and 3 PS members among 38 arrested over election violations 

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

Special security measures would be implemented at each police division today and tomorrow (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1) where the postal voting for the Presidential Election takes place, Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said yesterday.  

He said Police Headquarters had already given instructions to all the Police Stations across the country in this regard.  Accordingly, police mobile patrolling would be carried out near respective postal voting centres while special security would also be provided to the voting centres considering previous violent incidents. According to the Presidential Elections Act, it is prohibited to engage in election propaganda activities within 500 metres of the voting centres, the Spokesman said.  

He said the Election Commission had instructed the police to arrest and take strict legal actions against those who violate elections law.   Meanwhile, the Spokesman said that the police had arrested a total of 38 individuals with regard to the election law violations activities. “Police Sergeant attached to the Warakapola Police Station, Deputy Chairman of the Walallawita Pradeshiya Sabha,  members of the Panduwasnuwara Pradeshiya Sabha and former PS member of the Pelmadulla were among those arrested over election law violation.  He said any individual who was involved in violence or election violations would be arrested irrespective of their position.  

Meanwhile, the postal voting for the Police officers would be held on November 4 and 5, and those who are unable to cast their votes on those days, will be allowed to cast their votes on November 7 at the respective district secretariat offices.