By: Isuru Parakrama
September 23, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has strongly denied allegations regarding the conduct of its officials during the counting of preferential votes in the recently concluded 2024 Presidential Election.
The accusations, raised by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), claim that party representatives were not allowed to properly observe the counting process.
Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake, addressed the concerns during a televised interview, stating that the SJB’s charges were unfounded.
He emphasised that when representatives are appointed to monitor the counting of ballots, they are expected to remain at the centres for the entire duration of the process, alongside other officials.
“It is unacceptable for anyone to walk in and out of the counting centres during this critical time,” he remarked, highlighting the need for consistent oversight throughout the lengthy procedure.
Ratnayake clarified that the responsibility for election officials’ conduct rests with the Election Commission, while political parties are accountable for the behaviour of their representatives.
He explained that once the counting of preferential votes began, it was not the Commission’s duty to verify the presence of individual party members.
“If anyone not required at the centre was present, we would have taken action to remove them,” he said.
The Election Commission’s response comes after the SJB raised legal concerns, arguing that there had been no prior notice about the start of the preferential vote counting.
Ratnayake dismissed this claim, reiterating that all proper protocols had been followed.
