Police to go tough on ’cooling period’ election campaigns

Strict legal action would be taken against those engage in election propaganda activities from tonight, the cooling period of the presidential election, police said today.

Police Spokesman SSP Ruwan Gunasekera said according to the Presidential Election Act, it is prohibited to hold all types of canvassing and campaigning activities for the presidential election from tonight until a week after the announcement of the result.

“The cooling period has been announced allowing the public to cast their vote freely without any influence or barriers and also to hold a free and fair election. All election campaigns including holding elections rallies, house to house campaign are strictly prohibited.,” he said

SSP Gunasekera said that those who violate these regulations would be arrested and jailed after being produced in court,” he said.

The spokesman requested all the political party leaders, members and the political supporters to respect these regulations and work according to the law.

He said the police will also monitor social media election propaganda activities during the cooling period and that they would launch an investigation on a serious matter related to election law violations. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)