The Election Commission has announced that all publicity campaigns for the Local Government elections should end by midnight today (07).
Accordingly, after midnight today, publishing or broadcasting news or advertisements that promote or disadvantage parties, independent groups or candidates are not allowed.
Approval has been given to publish only reports of today’s political rallies in tomorrow’s newspapers and to telecast or broadcast via electronic media only on two occasions.
Today’s press briefings have been approved for publishing tomorrow’s newspapers, broadcasting on the regular news channel of the electronic media on two occasions.
According to a statement issued by the Election Commission, the approval was given at the Media Accreditation Committee, at the request of Media Representatives.
The announcement states that a free and fair poll can be held only with the support of the media.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission stressed that the claim that a particular party has won the postal votes in Anuradhapura District is completely false and the counting of the postal votes will begin only after the polls closed on the 10th.
Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said this time under the new electoral system, a separate result of postal votes will not be issued. Instead when the counting of votes in a division begins the postal votes will also be counted and included in the overall result.
The Commission requested the public to report complaints regarding false statements or text messages to the nearest police station or the Election Commission offices.
