”If the contestants in Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) election need security measures for their safety they can request the Jaffna Secretariat authorities and the requests, if deemed genuine, will be considered favourably in consultation with the Election Commissioner,” Jaffna Government Agent (GA), K. Ganesh, informed in the press meet held Thursday evening following the submission of nomination lists. “Our aim is to conduct the election in an independent and free atmosphere and we request the contesting parties to immediately notify of any election violence so that we could take necessary action,” the GA added.
The GA said that the final decision to employ the service of international and local observers in the JMC election rests with the Election Commissioner, in response to a question raised by a reporter.
Action is being taken to enable the voters among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) held in the SLA camps in Jaffna district to vote, the GA said.
There are 1,00,410 persons eligible to vote in the JMC election and those held in the SLA camps and staying out of Jaffna district should apply before June 26 if they wish to vote, the GA further said.
According to the applications received steps will be taken to set up polling stations in places out of JMC limits in keeping with the new laws, he added.
The GA also said that there were 26 IDPs who had applied so far to vote in the JMC election and they will be allowed to vote provided they are entitled to vote.
35 election centres with 75 polling booths are to be erected to conduct the JMC election, the GA informed.
700 officers will be employed in election duties and 400 in the counting of votes, he added.
In conclusion the GA requested the contesting parties to extend their full cooperation to conduct the election in a peaceful and orderly manner.
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