Election travel restrictions at Omanthai Checkpoint

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 November 2005, 13:18 GMT]
In a meeting held at the Vavuniya secretariat Monday at 3.30 p.m., Sri Lanka Army (SLA) high level officials and, Vavuniya district election Commissioner and Government Agent Mr S Shanumugam, decided to restrict travel at the Omanthai checkpoint and disallow heavy vehicles during Sri Lanka presidential elections on 16th and 17th November, secretariat officials said.

Sixty four clustered polling booths are to be deployed at the Omanthai Maha Vidiyalayam premises, sources said. Mannar Uyilankulam Royal Catholic Tamil Mission School (RCTMS) will host 12 polling booths and Madu Road Holy Anthony's Church will have 4 booths.

Voters will be searched only by Police officers and not by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, the officials said. Further, the voters will not be allowed to bring in any parcel or baggage to the polling stations.

Of the 104884 eligible voters in Vavuniya district, 78906 in Mannar district, and 66596 voters in Mullaitivu district, 18,857 (Vavuniya), 16131 (Mannar) and 65504 (Mullaitivu) voters reside in areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers, officials said.

Eligible postal voters include: 2450 (Vavuniya), 1170 (Mannar) and 324 (Mullaitivu).