Officers failed in their duties - Elections Commissioner

The Elections Commissioner has assured the public that he will do everything in his power to calm the tense situation that has arisen between voters and candidates after three bags full of marked ballot papers were found in a counting center in Puttalam.

Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya stated that this was the result of the relevant officers failing in their duties.

A tense situation was reported in the Puttalam Town yesterday (September 24) after three bags filled with used ballot papers were found inside the building of a school in Puttalam.

The three polythene bags filled with ballot papers were discovered by a worker inside a building of St. Andrew’s Central College, which was used as a counting center for the Provincial Council election.

The individual had then reported the matter to the District Returning Officer, Assistant Elections Commissioner, Police and other residents in the area.  

The ballot papers are believed to have been counted and left behind when the ballot papers were transported to the District Secretariat for storage.