The Department of Elections has commenced preliminary inquiries into the discovery of marked ballot papers at a school in Puttalam, an official said today.

Three bags filled with marked ballot papers were found inside a building of St. Andrew’s Central College Puttalam, which was used as a counting center for the Provincial Council polls, on Tuesday (September 24) sparking controversy over the election results in the district.

Department-level inquiries into the discovery were launched yesterday (28), a spokesman for the Elections Department said, adding, that an investigative committee comprising 5 members have been assigned with the task.

Meanwhile the department has also appointed a 3-member team to investigate fact and information pertaining to the incident, which had led to certain candidates filing legal action.

The committees appointed to look into the matter will submit all their finding to the Ministry of Public Administration, for a through disciplinary inquiry.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has also launched investigations into the discovery of ballot papers while 10 persons have already been questioned in regard. 

The Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya had stated that incident was the result of the relevant officers failing in their duties and vowed to do everything in his power to calm the situation that has arisen between voters and candidates.