Barely a day after the police pulled down some 50 per cent of the estimated 2,000 election-related cut-outs and banners in keeping with the deadline put forward by the Election Commissioner’s Office the material re-emerged once again, according to an independent monitor Mr. Rohana Hettiaarachchi with the People’s Action For Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) said that the worst affect areas were the districts of Kegalle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle and Badulla.

He added that the police were up against a losing battle in their attempts to get rid of such material from public places and blamed party for the current situation.

He added that such a situation could be avoided if the leaders take an initiative and tell their candidates and supporters to ditch this practice which is against the election laws of the country.

At present, a rough estimate puts the number of cut-outs erected in all parts of the country to something like 1,681 and banners to 482, Mr. Hettiaarachchi added. “We have given up the count on the posters”, he said.

Source: Times Online