17 December 2014 02:44 pm
Of the 30 individuals arrested 10 were PS members, the Police said. Local politicians have been warned of dire consequences if they were to step beyond the boundaries of the law. PS Chairmen of Mawathagama, Ududumbara and Ibbagamuwa and six other pradeshiya saba members were arrested, Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said.
“The Galnawa Pradeshiya Saba Chairman will also be arrested for using fire arms,” he said.
The Spokesman said the police had received 49 complaints, 14 of which were from the UPFA and 21 from the UNP.
Commenting on posters and cutouts, SSP Rohana said that 12,000 police officers had been deployed to remove them and that Rs. 50 million had been allocated for it. Vehicles transporting cutout s and posters and other election propaganda will be arrested.
“We ask the political parties to not put up posters and cutouts as we only have Rs. 50 million which may not be sufficient to remove all of them,” he said.
Other measures had also been taken to ensure those violating elections laws would be arrested, the Spokesman said. Civil police investigative teams have been deployed to ensure the law is upheld and the CCTV unit has also been notified to inform patrols of individuals violating laws.
“According to the Presidential election action paragraph 74 states that any individual who breaks election laws can be arrested without a warrant,” SSP Rohana said.
Disciplinary action is also to be taken against police officers who do not ensure the law is upheld, he said.
Polling booths on Election Day is to have two officers with T56 weapons and a female officer.
Polling booths which are to be visited by VIP persons are to have additional security, the Police Spokesman said.(Darshana Sanjeewa)
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