Forty one persons have placed bonds with the NEC to contest the upcoming Presidential Election 2019 by the mid-noon deadline yesterday. TNA MP M.K. Sivajilingam, former UPFA MP M.A.M. Hizbullah, Mahipala Herath and Tissa Kuttiarachchi placed cash deposits on Sunday (06).The candidates for the Presidential Election 2020 includes Gotabhaya Rajapaksa of the Sri Lanka Podujana Party, Sajith Premadasa of the Democratic National Front, Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People’s Power, Mahesh Senanayake of the National People’s Movement, Chamal Rajapaksa of the Sri Lanka Podujana Nidhahas Sandhanaya, Ajantha Wijesinghe Perera of the Socialist Party of Sri Lanka, Ven.Battaramulle Seelarathana Thera of the Jana Setha Peramuna, Rohan Pallewatta of the National Development Front, Duminda Nagamuwa of the Frontline Socialist Party, Siritunga Jayasuriya of the United Socialist Party, A.S.P. Liyanage of the Sri Lanka Labour Party, independent candidates Kumara Welgama and Rajeewa Wijesinghe.
The NEC has reportedly requested the candidates to hand in their assets declarations within three months while the winning candidate would be required to do so prior to assuming office.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) Presidential candidate Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday signed the nomination paper at an auspicious time in the presence of former President, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and SLPP supporters at his residence in Mirihana. Rajapaksa’s brother, Chamal Rajapaksa, also placed a deposit for candidacy at the Elections Secretariat on Friday (04th) evening.
The Election Commission yesterday met all persons who have placed bonds to brief them on the procedure to follow when submitting the nomination papers.The Police have deployed more than 500 traffic Police officers to carry out a special traffic plan which would be in effect from 6 a.m. today in the Rajagiriya area,the Police Media Unit said. Police requests the public to use alternative roads to avoid the traffic congestion today. 1,200 Police personnel including the Special Task force (STF) and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) units will be on duty, monitoring and observing the proceedings.
According to the Police Media Unit, 493 election centers have been established in parallel with Police stations. As a special security measure, drones have been banned over the airspace in the Rajagiriya and Welikada areas from Saturday (05) until today (07). According to NEC sources, the Sri Lanka Air Force has been entrusted with the responsibility of taking action against any such drones.Any sort of demonstration, cut outs or banners are prohibited in the NEC area. According to Police, they will take measures to video record any such demonstrations and take action against persons involved in such activities that violate the election laws.
Meanwhile, the NEC has established a Dispute Resolution Center to receive complaints related to the Presidential Election. The public could lodge complaints via telephone, Fax, Email, Viber/WhatsApp, Facebook and the NEC website. The contact details are as follows: 0112 868 212/560/217. Fax- 0112 868 526/529, Viber/WhatsApp 0719 160 000, Email- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Facebook- Election commission of Sri Lanka / Tell Commission Election commission of Sri Lanka.The Presidential election is to be held on November 16, 2019. The presidential election 2020 is considered significant as this would be the first time a President is not contesting for the second term.
