Irregularities with regard to the second preference count: SJB

• We requested that the second count should take place in the presence of our agents. However our agents were not allowed to enter the counting centres

By Yohan Perera   
Whilst alleging that there have been irregularities with regard to the second preference count of the Presidential Election 2024, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday said legal action will be taken if the necessity arises.   
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara told a briefing that the second count has begun in some counting centres without his party agents. “We requested that the second count should take place in front of our party agents. However our agents have not been allowed to enter the counting centres,” he said.   
MP Patali Champika Ranawaka who also participated in the briefing said officers who were on duty in some counting centres have begun the second count even before the official announcement on the decision to go for such an exercise was made and announced. “The procedure that would have been followed in accordance with the Presidential Elections Act, is that the final result of the first count has to be declared initially. The returning officers have to inform the Election Commission that no candidate has secured 50 percent plus one. Then, the decision to go for the second count has to be announced thereafter. The second counting should follow only after this decision is announced. What happened yesterday was that some officers have begun the second count on their own without following the proper procedure. This is illegal,” he said.   
“We believe that our candidate Sajith Premadasa has been adversely affected by the action of some officers,” he added.    Campaign Manager of Mr. Premadasa Sujeewa Senasinghe said his party would take legal action if the need arises.