Large number of candidates costs state coffers dearly

Increase in the number of candidates had resulted in larger ballot papers

Number of counting centres increased from 1713 last time to 2034 this time  

By Kelum Bandara   

The presence of a large number of candidates has cost the election authorities dearly in terms of additional expenses for extra counting centres, documentation work, and ballot paper printing, an official said yesterday.  

Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake told Daily Mirror that the increase in the number of candidates had resulted in larger ballot papers varying sizes according to each electoral district. He said the number of counting centres had increased from 1713 last time to 2034 this time.  

“All these mean extra costs for the election office. Yet, the actual increase can be known only after proper estimates are done following polling,” he said.  

The General Election will be conducted tomorrow throughout the country.  

According to the Election Commission, 60 polling stations, mostly, housed at Buddhist temples previously had been shifted because of ‘Katina Pinkamas’, flood threats and accessibility issues for disabled voters.  

Voting will take place at 13,421 polling stations across the country from 7am to 4 pm tomorrow.  

This time, 5,464 candidates from registered political parties and 3,357 independent candidates are in the fray to represent 225 members in Parliament.