The voting to select the next Executive President of Sri Lanka will be held tomorrow. Steps have now been taken to make the necessary security arrangements to conduct the presidential election as an independent and free election.
The National Security Council has also recently met (19) and reached final decisions. The Council, chaired by President Ranil Wickramasinghe, has decided to take maximum measures to protect law and order in the country on election day.
In this discussion, attention has been focused on ensuring the safety of the candidates, ensuring the security of polling centres and polling stations, and providing full support to the Election Commission.
During the post-election period, attention has also been focused on maintaining law and order in the country and ensuring an environment that does not disturb people’s daily lives.
Orders to remove election offices
The Election Commission Chairman, R. M. A. L. Ratnayake, has stated that orders have been issued to dismantle all election campaign offices established at the constituency level.
All polling offices set up at the constituency level will be removed by midnight of the 19th. If these offices are not removed voluntarily, they will be removed with the assistance of the security forces.
However, the presidential candidate’s house is permitted to be maintained as an office until the election is over, subject to several specified criteria.
Increases transportation
The transport department has arranged to provide necessary transportation facilities for people travelling to villages to vote in this year’s presidential election.
Additional long-distance service buses will be deployed, as the government anticipates a decrease in private bus services, given that private bus employees will travel to villages to cast their votes.
A series of instructions to polling officers
The Election Commission has issued special instructions to all public officials appointed for the duties of the presidential poll.
The instructions state that the election to elect the 9th President of Sri Lanka will be held on September 21, 2024.
It is emphasised that the officials should maintain a friendly relationship with the voters, polling station candidates, and their authorised representatives, especially during the polling period.
The instructions also stress the importance of acting meaningfully, kindly, and patiently, with no special consideration given to anyone, and emphasise the crucial nature of impartiality.
The Election Commission informs the election officials that the most important thing is to convince the people that they can vote according to their conscience in a free and fair atmosphere.
If a polling station is vandalised
The Chairman of the Election Commission, R. M. A. L. Ratnayake, has emphasised that if any disruptive acts occur at a polling station, the vote will be nullified.
If the nullification of votes impacts the overall voting results, then another round of polling will be conducted in the relevant section.
In such a case, the voting results cannot be released until the re-polling is completed. The Election Commission urges the community to avoid loitering between polling stations, engaging in violent acts, and disrupting the polling process.
Security forces have been instructed to strictly enforce the law, and steps have been taken to deploy the police and special task forces to maintain peace. Additionally, the tri-forces have been put on standby to be called in any emergency.
The law is getting tougher against the unruly crowd
The authorities have decided to take strict action against illegal gatherings. This includes gathering near roads and watching programs on television or big screens during the vote-counting process.
The Election Commission has advised security forces to disperse such gatherings and arrest those involved.
Additionally, people are urged to stay home after voting on the 21st and during the vote-counting process and to refrain from gathering in groups, setting off firecrackers, or releasing lighted balloons when the results are announced.
These actions are considered offences under the Unlawful Population Act, and the Election Commission has empowered security forces to take action against those involved.
The counting of votes begins
A clarification has been issued regarding the counting of votes. The Chairman of the Election Commission, R. M. A. L. Ratnayake, announced that after the necessary preparations are completed, the counting of postal ballots will begin on the 21st at around 4:15 PM.
The counting process will commence at the respective counting centres in the districts at around 7:00 PM after receiving the ballot boxes from the polling stations and fulfilling all the official requirements.
Counting votes will be conducted at the district level, and the results will be promptly released to the media once the counting is completed.
Initially, the number of votes in the ballot boxes will be tallied, followed by the number of votes each candidate receives. The results will be prepared at both the constituency and district levels.
If no candidate fails to cross 50 per cent
The General Election Secretariat will calculate the overall result and determine if any candidate has received more than 50 per cent of the valid votes.
If such a result is achieved, counting votes can be concluded at that time. Consequently, the Election Commission will be able to announce the winner.
However, if no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the votes, the votes will be counted again. The two candidates with the most votes will remain in the race, while the remaining 36 candidates will be eliminated, and the calculations will be carried out.
