TWO PC POLLS TO COST RS.1.2 BILLION

The March elections to the Western and Southern Provincial Councils is estimated to cost Rs.1,200 million as against Rs.874 million spent on the previous election, the Elections Department said yesterday.

Elections Commisioner Mahinda Deshapriya told a news conference that these two provinces comprised six million voters out of a total voter population of 14.1 million and that this was the main reason for the additional costs.

There are several basic expenses to be met such as the cost of printing ballot papers and poll cards at Rs.200 per voter. Electricity costs are also high

“There are several basic expenses to be met such as the cost of printing ballot papers and poll cards at Rs.200 per voter,” he said.

Giving a breakdown of the costs involved in conducting the elections to the North-Western, Central and Northern Provincial Councils, Mr. Deshapriya said Rs.150 million was paid to the Police Department; Rs.79 million to the Postal Services Department;

Rs.150 million was paid to the Police Department; Rs.79 million to the Postal Services Department; Rs.10 million on foreign observers and Rs.45 million to the Government Printer’s Department

Rs.10 million on foreign observers and Rs.45 million to the Government Printer’s Department.

“We have to pay a lot for electricity as well. We paid Rs.70 million at the previous elections,” he said.

Mr. Deshapriya said some voters had changed their places of residence as a result of relocation under the City Development Project and that he would make arrangements to enlist the help of political parties and the relevant authorities to see that poll cards were delivered to such voters.

He was responding to a question about some voters being relocated after the finalisation of the relevant electoral register, which is compiled annually with details of voters available up to June 1.

To ensure further transparency in the counting of preferential votes in particular, Mr. Deshapriya said the process would be streamlined with candidates being permitted to have their representatives at every counting centre in addition to their party representatives.