by Saman Indrajith
All security arrangements have been taken in order to ensure an enviornment for a free and fair election, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said.

"We have taken all precautions and measures to ensure a free and fair election. The result...we will have to wait and see," Mr. Dissanayake said addressing media, following a meeting with political party representatives held at the Election Secretariat on Monday afternoon.

He said that there was tight security with the support of police and armed forces who are being deployed islandwide to ensure a free and fair election process by arresting the increasing election related violent incidents. He requested voters to cast their votes as early as possible tomorrow, to avoid impersonation and other malpractices. "My earnest appeal to the voters, candidates, contesting parties, officials, monitoring groups and the civil society is to help us to make this endeavour a successful one," he said.

DIG, Elections Gamini Navaratne said that 40,000 policemen have been detailed in 36 election divisions and each of these divisions have three anti-riot squads, and armed forces for additional support if things go out of hand.

At least one mobile service for every five polling stations would be available and policemen and forces on election duty are given necessary instructions and orders to maintain the security of the election process, he said.

However the political party representatives did not seem to be happy with the assurances given by the Elections Commissioner and DIG (Elections), and indicated that the deployment of armed PSD personnel is a serious threat to hold elections free and fair.

"We indicated to the Elections Commi-ssioner an incident where five PSD personnel were taken into custody with lethal firearms at Padiyapalalla and emphasised that presence of armed PSD men is a threat to a free and fair election. They are supposed to provide security for the President and not engage in violating regulations. Our question was what security had those who were armed with fire arms and a rocket launcher, provided for the President at Padiyapalalla on Sunday," UNP candidate Prof. G. L. Peiris said after a meeting of party representatives with the Elections Commissioner and DIG Election Secretariat Gamini Navaratne at the Election Secretariat earlier in the afternoon.

PA spokesman Minister D. M. Jayaratna when asked to comment on five arrested PSD personnel said that some officials had political bias and were not impartial. Thus such incidents took place. "It is a sad situation in this country," he said.

"There are election rules and regulations. They are to be implemented and we have proposed to the election authorities to take legitimate action in this regard," he said.