Govt. Printer influenced to stop printing ballot papers: Handunnetti

• Says EC must question Government Printer regarding the matter

By Ajith Siriwardana   

Claiming that the Government Printer has been influenced by  the President to suspend printing of ballot papers, the National  People’s Power (NPP) yesterday 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.