Polling stations to be declared security zone

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 August 2008, 12:03 GMT]
Five hundred meters surrounding each polling station in the North Central Province (NCP) and Sabaragamuwa Province (SP) are to be declared high security zone on the Election Day, August 23. This is consequent to the increase of violence preceding the elections to the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council (SPC) and North Central Provincial Council (NCPC) scheduled to take place in five days. Elections Commissioner has also decided to strengthen the security of polling station by deploying Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, sources said.

Meanwhile, the main opposition United National Party (UNP) has warned the government led by Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse that people would take law into their own hands if the law enforcement authority fails to maintain law and order, and curb malpractices and intimidation on the polling day.

Poll survey conducted by the National Intelligence Bureau of the Defense Ministry has confirmed that the main opposition UNP is likelt to capture power in the two provincial councils.

"After the report of the survey was submitted to President Mahinda Rajapakse, the government machinery has been in full swing to rig the elections in favor of the ruling party UPFA by using unlawful means. Hence the UNP warns the government people would take the law in their hands if such anarchy reigns on the polling day," said Mr.Tissa Attanayake at a press conference held Sunday evening in Colombo.