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| Media
Communiqué on Election-related Violence Presidential Election - 2005 |
|
7th
November 2005 |
CMEV monitors visited 1038 polling stations where postal voting was taking place in all 22 Districts on the first day of postal voting which concluded on November 7, 2005.
In general, the process on the first day of postal voting was concluded without much incidence of violence or fraud.
As of 6 p.m. on the 7th November, CMEV had received 11 complaints regarding the conduct of the polls.
Of the 11, 7 were from Colombo District, 2 from Gampaha, and 1 each from Hambantota and Kegalle.
5 incidents were related to polling agents of different political parties being prevented from entering the polling stations. While the SPOs and Police Officers responsible have stated that the denial of permission to enter the polling stations was due to proper procedures not having been followed, political parties spokespersons have said that they have followed the procedures set out by the office of the Elections Commissioner.
In Dehiwela, the poll scheduled to be held at the Land Registry could not be conducted due to the fact that ballot papers had not been received.
The SPO of the postal polling station at Tissamaharama Pradesheeya Sabha has requested a postponement of the poll until November 9, due to a bereavement in his family. Special permission for this is awaited.
From Gampaha District, the CMEV monitor reported the presence of a UNP
member of the Pradesheeya Sabha seated inside the polling station located
at the Kadawatha Bus Depot. From Colombo District, CMEV monitors reported
that at the polling stations located at the premises of the Ministry
of Urban Development in Sethsiripaya in Battaramulla (Kaduwela Electorate),
and at the Divisional Education Office, Biyagama, leaflets supporting
the campaign of UPFA candidate were distributed near the entrance to
the buildings.
The polls are due to be continued on November 8, 2005.
Presidential Election – 7th November 2005
Postal Votes Incidents
| District |
Polling Division |
Location |
Polling Center Number & Name |
Incidents in Details/Remarks |
|
Gampaha |
Negombo |
Magistrate Court |
Magistrate Court Negombo |
UNP, JVP Polling Agents have been prevented from coming in to the polling centre by Police Officer |
|
Colombo |
Kolonnawa |
|
Rajasinghe maha Vidyalaya |
Permission has not been granted for UNP Polling Agents to enter the Polling Centre |
|
Gampaha |
Kelaniya |
Kadawatha Transport board |
Kadawatha Bus Depot |
Mr.George Perera Member of Provincial Council (UNP) was seated within the polling area. |
|
Colombo |
Maharagama |
|
Maharagama Bus Depot |
UNP Polling agent was refused permission to enter the polling station by SPO Mr.V.Jayasena |
|
Colombo |
Dehiwela |
Land Registry |
Land Registry |
Ballot papers had not been received |
|
Colombo |
Colombo Central |
Army Arms Depot |
|
UNP Polling agent was refused permission to enter the polling station by SPO |
|
Hambantota |
Thissamaharamaya |
Pradeshiya Saba |
Pradeshiya Saba |
Postal vote not conducted due to death in SPO's family; postponement to 9th requested. |
|
Colombo |
Kotte |
Udahamulla Depot |
Udahamulla Depot |
UPFA Polling agent refused permission to enter polling station by SPO because he is employed by the Depot. |
|
Kegalle |
Mavanella |
|
Mawanella Bus Depot |
Displaying of Ballot paper by a Voter who is a supporter of UPFA. |
|
Colombo |
Kaduwela |
Sethsiripaya |
Ministry of Urban Development |
Leaflets of UPFA candidate Mahinda Rajapaksha had been distributed close to the gate |
|
Colombo |
Biyagama |
Regional Educational Office |
Divisional Educational Office |
Leaflets of UPFA candidate Mahinda Rajapaksha had been distributed outside the postal voting centre |
CMEV was formed in 1997 by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), the Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Coalition Against Political Violence as an independent and non-partisan organisation to monitor the incidence of election related violence
| Info Share has launched a web-site combining information from agencies monitoring elections : www.slelections.info |
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| Dr.
P. Saravanamuttu |
Sunila
Abeysekera Co-Convenor |
Seetha Ranjani |