Election regulation violations on the rise

COLOMBO (News 1st) In the 11 days since the Presidential election was announced on the 8th of this month 1034 complaints have been lodged at the Elections Commission. Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said that 92 complaints on violations of elections laws and 4 other complaints were lodged at the commission in the 24 hours that ended at 4:30 last evening (October 19). Meanwhile, elections monitors have pointed out that there is an increase in the misuse of state property during the run-up to the presidential election. Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi said that they received 128 complaints. The National Organizer of the National Polls Observation Centre Attorney-at-law Rasanga Harischandra said that they had received 207 complaints. Meanwhile, the National Elections Commission said that observers from 13 countries will visit the country. Commissioner-General of the NEC Saman Ratnayake said that representatives from countries such as Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, and South Korea will represent the South Asian region as observers at the upcoming presidential election. These observers who land in the country on the 11th of next month will remain in the island until the end of the presidential election. They are also due to submit a report on the elections thereafter. The National Elections Commission also stated that 70 representatives from the European Union will also arrive in the island as election observers.