No assurance to re-allocate the symbol: EC

Election Commission informed a group of senior members of United National Party (UNP) that if the ‘elephant’ symbol is given up by the United National Party, the commission cannot give an assurance that the symbol concerned can be allocated after the election because it will be enlisted in the party register of the Election Commission.

Election Commission informed them that the same situation would affect not only the ‘elephant’ symbol but also the ‘swan’ symbol. The Commission informed, in this regard, when a group of senior UNP members met some officers of the Commission under the leadership of UNP Senior Deputy Chairman and Parliamentarian, Lakshman Kiriella.

UNP senior members have inquired, in detail, from the members of the Election Commission regarding the legal background of transferring the ‘elephant’ symbol of UNP as well as the 'swan’ symbol of New Democratic alliance.

In this regard, the officers of the election commission explained the UNP senior members that, if any registered party gives up its symbol, then it would be enlisted in the register of the election commission . After that, if more than one parties ask for that symbol, it has to be decided by drawing lots to which party should it be allocated.

In the meantime, a senior UNP parliamentarian said that the UNP has faced a grave problem regarding the transfer of ‘elephant’ symbol as well as the ‘swan’ symbol to another party.(Anjula Mahika Wijerathna)