Polls chief issues ultimatum to media

By J.T. de Silva and Daya Perera-2015-01-07

Commissioner of Elections, Mahinda Deshapriya has written to the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), Independent Television Network (ITN) and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) warning them that he will not allow them to telecast or broadcast Presidential Election results, if they don't stop promoting one candidate, even after deadline for election campaigning ended on 5 January.

Deshapriya wrote to the three institutions yesterday (06). He took the decision after a candidate complained that the three State Media institutions were continuing to promote one candidate even after the deadline for promotional activities had passed.
The same candidate had complained that a specimen ballot paper has been printed, with a false symbol assigned to him and has been distributed around the island in a bid to mislead the people.

The candidate had also complained that in several areas, the polling cards of voters, that are their official identity, are also being collected after a payment of
Rs 5000 each.
The Elections Commissioner has also received a complaint that In the next two days , the media is to announce that one of the two candidates, who is contesting under the same name as Sirisena, has withdrawn, and posters too have been printed in this connection in order to create a disadvantage to one candidate. It is also noted in the complaint that there is information, in the North East, a group in official Army attire, are to instil fear among the voters.

The presidential candidate, who met the Elections Commissioner, to make this complaint was accompanied by Sarath Fonseka, Ravi Karunanayake, Karu Jayasuriya, Wijedasa Rajapakshe and Rajitha Senaratne led by Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.