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The Presidential Secretariat announced that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, has ordered the Inspector General of Police to conduct further investigations on the printing of secret stickers relating to the General Election at a private press in Colombo. This order was made by the President with the view to hold a free and fair election. The General Secretary of the UNP, Gamini Athukorala, on 28th of July had made a complaint to the Commissioner of Elections that illegal and unauthorized polling cards had been printed and requested on 31st July to hold an inquiry by the Inspector General Police regarding the mater. After consultation with the Director, Nevil Nanayakkara of the Government Press on this regard had admitted that the particular cards are fraudulent and had not been printed at the Government Press. Later Inspector General of Police informed the President that CID inquiries have revealed that these parcels of stickers had changed hands and vehicles en route to the Election Commissioner’s office. The investigations have also revealed a large quantity of anti-fraud stickers were found at the Sugathadasa Sports Complex. The General Manager of the Sports Hotel, since the UNP regime, S. Paramasivam had told CID, the order of the stickers were given to Transcend Pvt. Ltd.. The owner of the company Karuppaiah Wijeynathan had printed these stickers at his office situated at Swarna Chaithya road, Grandpass, Colombo 14. Later Karuppaiah Wijeynathan was taken into custody and released by CID after being questioned. Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake has told the CID he gave the order to S. Paramasivam whom he knew and trusted well, because of the secret nature of the anti-fraud polling cards involved. Karuppaiah Wijeynathan told the CID that he was given the order by S. Paramasivam and admitted that he was not well experienced in handling such a large order and had to seek help from his neighbours to complete the order. On questioning the neighbours CID revealed that several three-wheeler drivers and other inexperienced people have helped him in printing the stickers. The stock of stickers were also taken into custody and later handed the lot to the Election Commissioner with his request. There is a large difference between the number of stickers printed and the total number of voters in each district. The President has instructed the Inspector General of Police to hold further investigations with a view to hold free and fair election.
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