by Zacki Jabbar
Amidst allegations of planned attempts by certain quarters in the government to rig tomorrow’s parliamentary poll, the Elections Commissioners Department said yesterday that it has taken all measures within its powers to ensure a free and fair election.

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissananayake warned that anyone who who fails to obey the law within polling centres would be hauled up before a Magistrate.

" Canvassing or soliciting votes within half a kilometer of a polling centres is also an offence which would be dealt with severely according to the law.Fire arms and cellular phones too would not be permitted within polling and counting centres" he said.

Informed sources said that the Elections Commissioner has sent out "special" instructions to Returning Officers and Presiding Officers in areas where violence and vote rigging is expected.

Asked what steps have been taken regarding the complaint by Minister and PA General Secretary D.M.Jayaratne that a powerful Cabinet Minister has planned to rig the poll in Kandy, the Government Agent Kandy S.Baddewela said they have informed the police.

"We discussed the matter at a meeting with SSP Kandy Nimal Madiwake and SP H.A.Illangasiri today.They assured us that necessary security would be provided".

Baddewela while acknowledging that he had received "special" instructions from the Elections Commissioner said ultimately it was the police that would have to deal with rough house tactics poll riggers would adopt.

Asked about rumours of a LTTE plan to bomb the Elections Secretariat today or tomorrow, Assistant Elections Commissioner K.Senanayake said that the security authorities had not said so.

"I am hearing it for the first time. But I will inform the Commissioner" he added.

With 10,000 polling booths situated country wide and 5048 candidates representing 29 political parties and 99 independent groups contesting the election , the police department has assigned 50,000 personnel to maintain law and order.

On a request by the Elections Commissioner the army too would be assisting the police in its duties.

The two main contestants the ruling Peoples Alliance and the United National Party (UNP) have both expressed confidence of winning the election but all factors considered a close finish is expected in a free and fair poll.

The UNP ,JVP and Sihala Urumaya are contesting all 22 districts.The PA too is contesting all districts but in the North it goes under an independent banner.

Meanwhile the head of the European Union Election Observation Mission, John Cushnahan said that they intend producing three reports within seven days of the close of polls.

"Our first preliminary report will be published shortly after polling closes.This will relate to the conclusions of the mission on the election campaign upto but excluding polling day itself.Our second preliminary report will follow an extensive debriefing session between the Core Team and our 69 observers who will have returned from the field.This will be released on October 12.The final report will be submitted to the European Union Commission five days later" he said .