Monday 10 February 2014

Elections chief furious over candidates not submitting assets declarations

Elections chief furious over candidates not submitting assets declarations With their nomination papers
February 8, 2014, 6:16 pm

By Franklin R. Satyapalan

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday lashed out at candidates for not handing over their assets declarations with the nomination papers to contest the forthcoming PC poll in the Western and southern provinces.

"They should do so by the February 28 deadline", he said.

He warned that the names of those who failed to do so would be disclosed on March 1. They could also lose their privileges including the official accreditation identity card issued by the Elections Department to candidate, facilities for authorized agents to be present inside polling stations and entry into counting
centers, in terms of the election law.

Deputy Commissioner of Elections (Administration) M. M. Mohammed said the Elections Commissioner had scheduled a meeting with party secretaries and independent group leaders to brief them on this matter at the Elections Secretariat on Thursday at 3pm.

Meanwhile Additional Commissioner of Elections (Provincial and Local) R. N. A. L. Ratnayake said the preparation of preference numbers to the 3,794 candidates is now underway.

He said the numbers will be issued according to the Sinhalese alphabetical order and released, most probably, by Tuesday.

The Department had rejected the nominations of one independent group to contest the Kalutara district and four of others from the Colombo district. The only nomination of a mainstream political party to be rejected was of the party formerly known as the All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC) now known as Akila Illankai

Makkal Congress to contest the Kalutara district.

Elections Secretariat sources said that that 3,794 candidates will be in the fray to elect 102 members to the Western province and 53 to the Southern province — a total of 155.

A total of 2,441 candidates belonging to mainstream political parties and 1,353 candidates from independent groups will contest.

In the Colombo district, 774 candidates of 18 mainstream political parties and 473 from 11 independent groups — a total 1, 247 — will be in the fray to elect 40 members.

In the Gampaha district, there will be 559 candidates of 13 major political parties and 387 from nine independent groups - a total of 946 candidates — will contest to elect 40 members.

In the Kalutara district, 325 candidates of 13 mainstream political parties and 225 from nine independent groups — a total of 550 candidates — will be in the fray to elect 22 members.

In the Galle district, 350 candidates of 14 main political parties and 100 candidates belonging to four independent groups — a total of 450 candidates – will be in the fray to elect 22 members.

In the Matara district, 280 candidates of 14 major political parties and 100 candidates belonging to five independent groups — a total of 380 candidates – will contest to elect 17 members.

In the Hambantota district, 153 candidates of nine main political parties and 68 from four independent groups — a total of 221 candidates – will be in the fray to elect 14 members.

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