Vanni voters to stay overnight in Puliyankulam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 March 2004, 13:29 GMT]
"Voters from Liberation Tigers controlled area in Vanni will not undergo regular checking at Omanthai Sri Lanka Army checkpoint, and voters from remote areas will be given the option to stay overnight at Puliyankulam with free transportation, lodging facilities," said Vavuniya Government Agent (GA) and Returning Officer K.Ganesh after a meeting Sunday with Vanni district Deputy Inspector General of Police, sources in Vavuniya said.

Mullaitivu GA, Ms.Emild Sugumar, Assistant Returning Officer, S.Paramakulasingam, Office Manager at Vavuniya Secretariat, K.V.Thangarajah, Transportation Officials, representatives of Private Vehicle Owners Association, Officers from Water Distribution Department, Vavuniya Assistant Commissioner of Elections, A.S.Karunanithi, Engineer S.Sivapatham and other officials participated in the meeting lasting two hours at the Vavuniya Secretariat.

Mr.Ganesh said that about 100 buses would be needed to transport voters from Mullaitivu district to Omanthai on the election day. The additional 50 buses will be sent from Vavuniya, with 35 private buses and 15 buses from Department of Transportation making up the required total.

Four lorries have been organized for transporting voters from the Palamottai area, the GA added.

Officials attending the meeting said that the authorities are still reviewing the possiblity of moving the polling booths from Omanthai Maha Vidiyalayam to a point closer to the SLA checkpoint to reduce the travelling time of the voters.