PAFFREL deploys 1,000 monitors for polls

The People’s Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) yesterday said that 1,000 monitors will be deployed to monitor today’s Local Government election.

PAFFREL executive director Rohana Hettiarachchi said stationary and mobile monitors will be deployed by PAFFREL to cover 80 percent of polling stations in 19 districts. Sixty five mobile monitoring units will be in operation to cover polling stations where monitors will not be stationed.

Plans have been made to deploy special mobile monitoring units in Kaduwela,Kasbewa and Attanagalle, he told a press briefing at the Centre of Society and Religion, yesterday. “The Elections Commissioner has taken several positive steps to conduct a free and fair election. His immediate involvement on complaints on election malpractices in the pre-election period should be appreciated,” Hettiarachchi said.

“The Election Commissioner had paid much attention to secure the democratic rights of the persons in Northern Province as this election deals with Local Government institutes which are much closer to persons. The direct supervision of the Commissioner will help create a free and fair environment today and it will help maintain independence in the counting centres as well,” he said.

“Voters of some areas in the North including Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu lack proper transport facilities to travel to their voting stations, the Elections Commission had allocated two buses to provide transport to those areas,” he said.