14 Dec 2014

Elections Commissioner moves to free venues for Sirisena’s meeting

December 13, 2014, 6:45 pm 

Asked whether his office would intervene in the event that the government continued to deny the common opposition venues for their meetings, Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday said, "my office has already intervened and through our Returning Officers have sorted all these issues in the electoral districts of Kurunegala, Kotmale and Attanagalle."

He further said his Returning Officers have spoken to the heads of the relevant Municipal Councils, and Pradeshiya Sabhas and have ensured that the opposition is given as much a chance of booking venues for political work as the government.

The UPFA resorted to booking all venues in various areas for their meetings and did not use them, preventing the opposition from using such spaces.

Deshapriya agreed that the situation in Biyagama, Kelaniya, Kotte and Maharagama may still require his intervention.

"I will be intervening in these areas also if there is a need. For the moment we are watching how things progress," he said.
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