Over 50 arrested on election day for violating laws, including two candidates

• Majority of those arrested were detained for illegally conducting election campaigns on voting day

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  
Over 50 individuals, including two candidates contesting in the General Election, have been arrested on election day for violating various election laws.   
Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that the candidates were arrested in the Kalpitiya and Vavuniya areas.  
The majority of those arrested were detained for illegally conducting election campaigns on the day of voting. 

In addition to campaign violations, reports of other infractions, such as bribery, photographing ballot papers, tearing ballot papers and physical assaults have emerged from several locations.  
DIG Thalduwa also said that one election official had to be removed from duties after it was found that he had acted improperly when asked to assist a voter.   
The Police Spokesman emphasized that only authorized individuals will be permitted entry into the vote counting centres. He also warned that even authorized persons would be barred from entering if found to be intoxicated. Furthermore, mobile phones will not be allowed inside counting centres, and large gatherings of people viewing election results on digital screens will not be permitted. In such cases, security forces will intervene to disperse the crowds.