Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya has proposed to the mainstream political parties that they reduce their propaganda expenses at elections. He made the proposal during a meeting with a delegation from the Democratic Party (DP) on Wednesday

Polls Chief discusses changes to election  law with political parties

August 28, 2014, 10:31 pm

by Franklin R. Satyapalan

Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya has proposed to the mainstream political parties that they reduce their propaganda expenses at elections. He made the proposal during a meeting with a delegation from the Democratic Party (DP) on Wednesday at the Elections Secretariat at Sarana Road, Rajagiriya.

The matter would have to be discussed in Parliament before an amendment could be introduced to the Elections Act, said Deputy Commissioner of Elections (Administration) M. M. Mohammed.

The Commissioner also proposed a ceiling on election related  advertising in the print and electronic media.

In this connection the Commissioner of Elections had invited a delegation from the United National Party (UNP) to meet him yesterday morning and a delegation of Lawyers representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) the main constituent party of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at 3. 00 pm yesterday.

Several other amendments to the Elections Act and the prevailing situation in the Moneragala and Badulla Districts were taken up for discussion on Wednesday when a delegation of the Democratic Party led by Parliamentarian Jayantha Ketagoda met the Commissioner of Elections at his invitation.

Parliamentarian Ketagoda said that he had briefed the Commissioner of Elections on continuing attacks on their party offices and activists and requesting that steps be taken to ensure that the election would be free and fair.

Additional Commissioner of Elections (Provincial and Local) R. N .A. L. Ratnayake also attended the discussions with the DP at the Elections Secretariat from 11.00am to 1.30pm.

Source - www.island.lk/index.php