Tuesday 6 May 2008

Post Master General denies UNP allegation that poling cards were not distributed

Post Master General (PMG) M.K.B. Disanayaka says that the average of the mailing of polling cards is 90%, a satisfactory level, in the Eastern Province at the coming Provincial Council election.

The PMG made these comments when Lanka-e-News queried on the UNP allegation that 170,000 polling cards had not distributed yet.
The PMG said that an average of 10% of polling cards are not distributed in any election but the effectiveness shown in this election was far better.

When asked if the above mentioned figures pointed out by UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella was wrong, the Post Master General said that it was the situation by April 30 but it gradually changed as polling cards were distributed on May 01 and 02.

The Post Master General said that the Postal Department had 7028 polling cards in Ampara district, 10,865 in Akkaraipaththu, 29,167 in Trincomalee and 9584 in Batticaloa district. He said that the owners could produce identity documents and collect them from the relevant post offices during office hours until the day the election would be held.

The Post Master General said that 178,934 polling cards out of 185,971 in Ampara district, 225,841 out of 236,706 in Akkaraipaththu, 204,797 out of 233,964 in Trincomalee district, 320,029 out of 329,613 of Baticaloa district have been distributed by today.

Mr. Disanayaka further said that the voters could submit identity documents and vote even if they had not received polling cards.

When Lanka-e-News enquired from MP Lakshman Kiriella how he challenged the Post Master General’s calculations that 98% of the polling cars had been distributed in Batticaloa district, he said that the polling cards had been given to Pillaiyan.

When Lanka-e-News enquired from Assistant Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya if the UNP had lodged a complaint in this regard, he said that there was no point complaining to the Election Commissioner since the official bore no responsibility of distributing polling cards.

He said that polling cards were handed over to the Post Master General who is responsible for distributing them. He further said that he could not answer the questioned posed with the hope of achieving political gains.

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