Senior Jaffna election official removed

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Assistant commissioner of Elections of the Jaffna district Mr. N.C Arunthvachelvan was removed from his post by the government with immediate effect this morning. He has been recalled to Colombo.

Mr. K. Nadarajah, an officer who was attached to the local government department office in Chavakachcheri was nominated to his post. Mr. Nadarajah is currently in Colombo.

Following his refusal to take up duties, a five member team of elections officials arrived in Jaffna to receive nominations from tomorrow.

The team was escorted by Jaffna town brigade commander Brig. Susantha Mendis for a discussion with the Government Agent at the Kachcheri. None of them were introduced to the Jaffna Government Agent.

The team left with the army soon after the discussion.

Meanwhile all the ballot boxes at the elections office at the Jaffna Kachcheri were removed to an unspecified location with military escort today.

Sources in the Jaffna Kachcheri speculate that the NHDA office in the Forest Dept. lane in Jaffna town might function as the elections office.