Presidential Election 2015 Postal Voting

Communiqu 01 by CMEV

(Lanka-e-News- 23.Dec.2014, 11.45PM) 23rd

December 2014 Colombo, Sri Lanka - Postal voting for the Presidential
Election scheduled for 8th January 2015 commenced this morning at 7.30
a.m. A total of 541,831 voters are eligible to cast postal votes on the 23rd,
24th, 26th and 30th of December 2014.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa launched his election manifesto today (23rd)
and his speech was aired live by the Independent Television Network (ITN)
and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting co-operation (SLBC) from 9.00 a.m.
onwards. Whilst the airing of this election activity is a violation of the
Election Commissioners directives on the use of state media and state
resources, CMEV received several complaints of this speech being played
loudly in government buildings which operate as polling stations for the
postal vote.
CMEV received complaints that the telecast of the speech could be seen
and /or heard by voters en route to casting their postal votes in the
Divisional Secretariat premises in Passara, Karachchi, Ambagamuwa,
Ududumbara and Lunugala.
Divisional Secretariat Gomarankadawala, Trincomalee District.
Postal voting was temporary suspended due to a clash between M.K.D.S
Gunawardana, MP (NDP), and Mr. Sadun Hemantha, a Member of
Gomarankdawala Pradeshiya Sabha (UPFA), at around 9.10 a.m. According
to a CMEV monitor, Mr. Gunawardanas driver had assaulted Mr. Hemantha
following a heated argument between Mr. Hemantha and Mr. Gunawardana.
Mr. Hemantha has been taken to Gomarankadawala Rural Hospital with
minor head injuries.
Voting re- commenced at 10.00 a.m after the Assistant Returning Officer of
the Trincomalee District arrived at the scene.

Sri Lanka Army 68th Battalion Headquarters Pudukuduirippu, Mullativu

District.
A CMEV mobile monitor reported that the designated place for voting within
this polling station is not secure and that the Certifying Officer of the polling
center has a clear view of each ballot that is being marked.
The CMEV monitor had taken up this issue with the Certifying officer Lt. Col.
T.M.K.C Amarakoon who stated that they were unable to make alternative
arrangements. CMEV has made a written complaint to the certifying officer
in this regard.
Special Task Force camp- 3rd Mile Post, Siyabalanduwa, Monaragala District.
CMEV monitor reported that at around 7.30 a.m. R.P Herath, Commanding
Officer of the camp informed him that voting was closed for the day after
only about 5 votes were cast when the monitor was present. The
Commanding Officer had further informed the CMEV monitor that the
balance votes would be cast tomorrow. A total of 154 postal votes were
registered at this camp.
When contacted by CMEV, Assistant Elections Commissioner for the
Monaragala District, stated that the said closure was contrary to the
directions provided by his office and that they will investigate into the
matter.
Southern Provincial Council Building Galle
CMEV monitor reported that hand bills were being distributed in front of the
Southern Provincial Council Building in Galle. Chief Minister of the Southern
Provincial Council, Mr. Shan Wijayalal Silva was also among the group
distributing handbills.
Six polling stations are located within the premises of the Southern
Provincial Council building with a total of 284 postal voters registered to
cast their vote.
Labor Department Head office Narahenpita
The CMEV polling station observer for the Labor Department was not
granted access until 8.30 a.m to monitor the postal vote. The Certifying
Officer Mr. Anura Muthumanna, a Labor Commissioner refused to allow
access until a specific letter addressed to him, was produced stating that
the specific observer should be given access. Following communications
made with Assistant Election Commissioner Colombo, the CMEV observer
was granted access to monitor the polling station. CMEV notes that this
incident took place despite the monitor possessing a letter of authorization
signed by the Commissioner of Elections authorizing him to enter and
monitor a polling station.

It was further reported by the monitor that a group of people were

distributing handbills in front of the premises where the postal vote was
being conducted.
Navy Camp Welisara, Gampaha District
CMEV monitor was not permitted to enter the premises of the Navy camp
by the security at the gate. The security informed our monitor that they
were not aware of CMEV and therefore could not permit a representative of
the organization to enter the camp.
Again CMEV notes that this incident took place despite the monitor
possessing a letter of authorization signed by the Commissioner of
Elections authorizing him to enter and monitor a polling station.
The monitor was permitted to enter the camp to monitor postal voting at
about 9.45 a.m after CMEV informed the Assistant Election Commissioner,
Gampaha.
S.L.T.B Depot Uppuveli, Trincomalee District.
A Jeep (registration number 30 0018) bearing a poster of President
Mahinda Rajapaksha is parked in front of the polling station within the
premises of the Depot. The CMEV polling station observer reported that the
Jeep belonged to R.M.G Vijitha Dharmasiri Depot Manager of the Uppuveli
Depot.
Furthermore a poster of President Mahinda Rajapaksha has been
prominently displayed within the premises of the Depot.
S.L.T.B Depot Gampola, Kandy District
Posters of President of Mahinda Rajapaksha are prominently displayed
within the premises of the Depot. The said posters have been present for at
least two weeks and no steps have been taken remove them.
Headquarters of The Civil Security Department of Sri Lanka Kilinochchi,
Kilinochchi District.
A CMEV Mobile Monitor reported that officers of the Civil Security
Department (CSD) were collecting information from civilian workers
attached to the CSD as they left the polling station. Information collected
included name, NIC number, and time of voting.
The CMEV monitor had observed workers attached to the farms maintained
by the CSD being separated into groups based on their work location and
the information being collected accordingly.
When contacted by CMEV Major Sagara Weerasinghe the Certifying Officer
of the polling station stated that such information was collected to ascertain
the details of persons who had cast their postal votes today in order to

facilitate internal administration of the farms. Major Weerasinghe stated

that they needed this information to arrange transportation for tomorrow
and to prepare work rosters so persons who had not cast their vote could be
released from work tomorrow.
This conduct is particularly problematic in light of the serious allegations
made against the CSD during the Northern Provincial Council election in
September 2013. The Assistant Election Commissioner Kilinochchi District
is presently on location investigating the CMEV complaint.
--------------------------by
(2014-12-23 22:28:20)
Posted by Thavam