Srilanka

Polls chief Mahinda Deshapriya has informed that the closing date to accept postal vote applications for the presidential elections would be on September 30.The Election Commission Chairman had made these remarks during a meeting with officials including district secretaries today (Sept 21).During the meeting, Mr. Deshapriya had pointed out the need to implement a special security plan while transporting ballot boxes to the counting centres during the presidential election.The election is to be held on November 16.

To coincide with the ‘National Coastal and Marine Resources Conservation Week& which had been declared from 16th to 21st September, a range of beach cleaning programmes were carried out by SL Navy in collaboration with the Marine Resources Conservation Authority.Accordingly, several beach cleaning programmes in all Naval commands were conducted all over the week with the participation of school children, servants of government and private sectors and general public. Plastic/polythene particles and other degradable waste were disposed from the beaches during these cleaning efforts.

President Maithripala Sirisena said it was his consistent policy that the Executive Presidency should be abolished and attempts to abolish it at a time when an election has been declared is a hoax.President made these comments addressing the Matale District Convention of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party yesterday (21). Expressing his views on the erroneous claims made by Prime Minister that the recent Cabinet meeting was called on a requirement by him, the President said the meeting was convened at a request by the Prime Minister himself.

Three more Presidential nominees yesterday (Sept 20) made their cash deposits to contest at the upcoming presidential election on November 16, the Elections Secretariat said. The candidates who made their deposits include Gotabhaya Rajapaksa of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Prasanna Perera of the Ape Jana Balaya party, and Ven. Aparakke Punyananda Thero as an independent candidate.