COLOMBO (News1st) : Sri Lanka’s polls chief has dismissed claims that first-time parliamentary election candidates have been disadvantaged as they have been restricted from publicly displaying their preferential numbers.

“The list of candidates along with their preferential numbers is sent to every household,” Mahinda Deshapriya, the chairman of the National Election Commission (NEC) told reporters on Saturday.

He added that if the candidate has earned fame by working, voters will find out the preferential number, if the candidate is suitable to be elected.

Candidates can also make voters aware of their preferential numbers by door-to-door campaigning and by holding small-scale meetings, Deshapriya pointed out.

Only three people will be allowed to engage in door-to-door campaigning while meetings have been limited to 100 participants, due to restrictions imposed amidst COVID-19.

“We haven’t prepared the laws. The laws have been prepared by Parliament. Therefore, there is nothing that we can do about it at the moment,” Deshapriya remarked.

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