Issues over ink used to mark fingers of voters

Election monitors had received a number of reports related to the ink used to mark fingers of voters. There were complaints of the ink fading even before voters could cast their votes.

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said that a total seven such incidents have been recorded by the CMEV from Kurunegala, Mullathivu, Vavuniya and Vanni. CMEV has informed the Election Commissioner about these complaints.

Meanwhile, CMEV said that it also received a complaint about the lack of privacy in the polling booth ? one such complaint was received about the Community Development Centre Hall polling station 31 in the Badulla Electorate.

CMEV also received a complaint that there was no privacy to cast votes due to the presence of SPO, K.M.G. Samaranayake at the Wattaram Thenna Urban Community Hall Polling Station 16.

It was reported to the CMEV that the CMEV Day Observer has been asked by the SPO to refrain from his monitoring duty at the Galpottawala Thilakashrama Temple Preaching Hall polling centre 32, Ambalangoga. This has occurred at around 8.00 a.m. and the observer has happened to stay away around 25 minutes.

Additionally, there have been reports about unsolicited text messages and the distribution of campaign material in and around polling stations. (Colombo Gazette)