Polls for NP, CP and NWP scheduled for after second week of Sep

The polls for the Northern Province, Central Province and North Western Province is scheduled to be held after the second week of September as the bill for voting rights of displaced people is passed, sources at the Election Department stated.

The Registration of Electors (special provisions) bill that ensures voting rights to displaces persons in the North passed in parliament with amendment yesterday.

The Supreme Court ruled that the special bill that gives voting rights to the displaced in the North is consistent with the constitution, Speaker announced in parliament on June 5. 

The issue of whether it is in accordance with the constitution that those who were internally displaced in the North could cast their votes according to the areas they resided in before being displaced was brought up to the Supreme Court for interpretation.

Deputy Solicitor General Arjun Obeysekera who was present for the Attorney General pointed out that internally displaced persons can, with a certificate from the Grama Sevaka, cast his vote for the area of residence prior to being displaced.

However, he also stated that if it is proven that any person has been a registered voter in more than one electorate or has been registered on two voting lists, legal action will be taken against the person.