Dumped Fonseka Votes: Last Time Near Ratnapura Technical College, This Time Near Kalagedihena School

More than 300 ballot papers of 2010 Presidential election, in which votes were cast to the common candidate Sarath Fonseka’s symbol ’swan’  found near a school in Kalagedihena yesterday. The ballot papers were belong to the Nuwara Eliya District, says Nittambuwa Police. 

Speaking to media DNA MP Jayantha Kategoda said; “What is emerging are the ruins of a rigged election, it beats any rational person as to how ballot papers cast in Nuwara Eliya were found in a another corner of the island.”

In December 2011,  Elections Department’s former Questioned Documents’ Examiner P.H. Manatunga has confirmed that the 62 ballot papers which were marked for common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka at the last presidential election and found dumped near the Ratnapura Technical College were originals though the government had failed to conduct an impartial inquiry into the incident.

According to the letter tabled in parliament Manatunga said he examined the ballot papers using analytical techniques such as ultra violet radiation, transmitted and oblique light. “I find that these 62 ballot papers are not photocopies. They are originals printed on security paper,” he said and added that the paper was off white in colour and each ballot paper was 38.9 centimetres by 11.4 centimtres and had the legend “Presidential Election 2010-Ratnapura District” in the three languages. He said security fibres are seen embedded in the paper whose serial numbers were mentioned in the letter.

United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya then referred to this letter at the committee stage of the budget debate and said Mr. Manatunga who was now retired had confirmed that these were original ballot papers though the government initially denied it. Mr. Jayasuriya tabled a copy of this letter in parliament. “The government spokesmen said these were bogus ballot papers. Even the District Secretary denied it. But, today, the truth has come out,” Mr. Jayasuriya said.  He also decried the government’s failure to constitute the Independent Elections Commission and the Independent Police Commission.