Colombo
As Sri Lanka prepares for its general elections on Nov 14, at least 11 candidates have been arrested for breaching election laws. The country is gearing up for a highly contested parliamentary poll with 8,888 candidates vying for seats.
The arrests come amid ongoing scrutiny by the Election Commission, which is closely monitoring campaign activities. Saman Sri Ratnayake, the Director General of the Election Commission, warned that candidates found guilty of violations could be disqualified, even if elected.
The arrests, according to Police Spokesperson DIG Nihal Thalduwa, were made over accusations of distributing unauthorized leaflets, putting up illegal posters, and protesting at police stations to release detained suspects.
Sri Lanka’s parliamentary election will elect a 225-member assembly for a five-year term, with more than 17 million eligible voters. The election was called one year ahead of schedule after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake dissolved the assembly in September, shortly after his election. Dissanayake has promised to revise the IMF program to provide relief to citizens affected by the economic crisis.
The opposition claims that Dissanayake’s economic pledges have faltered, suggesting the need for a more experienced parliament to address the country’s financial challenges. Official campaigning will end at midnight on Nov11.
