Some 54, 000 police on Lanka election duty
(COLOMBO) – And estimated 54, 000 policemen would be deployed on pre-election duty from its total force of 77,000 in order to ensure the smooth conduct of the election process, a senior official told the media on Thursday.
The police personnel will be deployed across the country to manage polling stations, counting centres, oversee the transportation of ballot boxes, and address any potential disturbances, ensuring that the election proceeds without incidents, Senior DIG (Elections) Asanka Karavita said.
He said that police personnel will be stationed at 13,000 polling stations and 45 counting centres across the country.
In addition, 3,200 police mobile patrolling vehicles will be in operation during the election period to maintain law and order.
The police are also taking proactive measures to address election-related violations.
DIG Karavita said in addition to that the police have hired 1,500 labourers to remove election-related propaganda material such as cutouts, posters banners and so on from public places.
He added that so far, 169,358 illegal posters, banners and cutouts have been removed, with 61,062 posters, 512 banners and 793 cutouts taken into police custody.
He said three police officers have been assigned to each of the 607 police stations nationwide for election duties and to investigate into election related complaints.
In addition, over 260 police personnel are assigned for the security of Presidential candidates.
Police personnel are also being deployed for the security of over 250 scheduled election rallies and the premises where ballot papers are being printed.
Earlier the President’s Office said that the army and other security force personnel have been deployed for election duty in order to assist the under-staffed police personnel.
