Govt. Printer influenced to stop printing ballot papers: Handunnetti

Claiming that the Government Printer has been influenced by the President to suspend printing of ballot papers, the National People's Power (NPP) today urged the Elections Commission to summon the Government Printer and question regarding the matter.

Former JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti told a news conference that the Government Printing Department should act to meet the requirements of the Elections Commission and that disrupting its activities was a punishable offence.

"We heard that the Government Printer has been summoned to the President's House. This is an influence on her. They are answerable to the people of this country as they are paid by them. We urge them to perform their duties without being influenced by anyone," he said.

Handunnetti said that majority of the expenses have already been allocated to conduct the election and that there is no reason to withhold printing of ballot papers. "The normal printing activities in the government printing department have not been stopped. There is no reason as to why only the printing of ballot papers are held up. That means there is a clear influence," he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)