No chance for last minute rigging; all state employees with us: AKD

10 September 2024 10:05 pm Views - 2407

Colombo, September 10 (Daily Mirror)- Claiming that there is no chance for last minute election rigging as feared by some, NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today most of the government employees who deal with election related duties such as police personnel, teachers and election department officials are supporting the National People's Power (NPP) this time.

Speaking at a rally in Matale, he said some people feared that President Ranil Wickremesinghe is a crafty man and will resort to any thing at the last minute to prevent a NPP victory. However, Wickremesinghe could do nothing to prevent a NPP victory.

"I am sure Ranil will accept the defeat and peacefully leave. He is a well experienced loser in elections. Some fear that something could be done to the ballot paper or change ballot boxes. Nothing can be done. Ballot papers which are put into the ballot box is counted and results are released by the government employees. They will protect the ballot paper. Ballot boxes are taken from the polling station to the counting centres with police protection. So, police will ensure that nothing will happen as most of the police personnel support us," he said.

Dissanayake said police have done their duty with their heart and soul and said the NPP government will carry out its duty in return soon after victory on September 21.

"We will ensure a respectable police service free of political interference. We will provide them with uniforms, shoes and other requirements on time and will increase their batta payment," he said.