Two leading presidential candidates spend Rs 750mn for advertising

COLOMBO(News 1st) - The Elections Commission issuing a communique notes that it is compulsory for all electors to bring documents of identification to the polling stations. The communique states that electors must bring one of the following identification documents when they go to their respective polling stations to vote for the presidential election. The identification documents that will be accepted are:

• National Identity card
• Valid Passport
• Valid Driving license
• Government Pensioners' identity card (issued by the Department of Pensions)
• Elders' identity card (issued by the divisional Secretariat)
• Bhikku/priest identity card (Issued by the Department of Registration of Persons)
• Temporary Identity card (issued by the Elections Commission)
• Special Permit with the photograph issued by the Department of Registration of persons

The communique further notes, in the electoral registers placed at the polling stations the names of the electors who have gone abroad, have been marked on the particulars obtained from the Grama Niladhari. The polling cards of electors who have gone abroad have been posted to the addresses of their normal residence mentioned in the electoral register. The electors who have returned from abroad are kindly advised to bring their passport in addition to their national identity cards. Any such elector who fails to produce the passport even though he/she produces any other valid identity document will have to make a declaration on the specimen as required by the presidential elections act. The communique further states that a ballot will not be issued to any elector who declines to make such a declaration. Meanwhile, with 16 days more to the presidential election, the Center for Monitoring Election Violence has initiated a project to estimate election spending. National Co-ordinator of the centre, Manjula Gajanayaka spoke exclusively to News 1st. Manjula Gajanayake noted that of the total cost two leading candidates had incurred more than Rs 750mn for printed and electronic media, while the remaining 33 candidates had only spent Rs 2 mn in total.