Record number of candidates register for April 2 polls 
[February 25, 2004 - 7.30 GMT] 

An unprecedented 6000 candidates will run for political office in the upcoming Parliamentary elections.  This is the highest number of candidates in Sri Lanka’s 56 year post-independent history.

The snap polls will be held April 2, following the dissolution of Parliament February 7. The candidates vying for slots in the 225-legislature belong to 24 recognized political parties and 192 independent groups.

According to a spokesman from the Elections Secretariat due to the massive number of candidates it could take around three days to allocate individual numbers. Such numbers will enable voters to pick their preferred candidates after they cast their vote for a party. The numbers are allocated to candidates according to the Sinhala alphabet.

He further said the voter strength for this election had increased by almost four lakhs when compared to the 2001 election.

Election Commissioner, Dayananda Dissanayake said the country would see for the first time re-polling in areas where blatant rigging is proved. This, Dissanayake said may hold up the release of the final results.

Political parties have scheduled major rallies for Thursday to kick off their elections campaigns. The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) plans to hold its inaugural rally in the ancient capital of Anuradhapura, while the United National Front (UNF) will begin its campaign trail in the hill capital, Kandy.

Meanwhile foreign monitors are due from Bangladesh, Pakistan, the European Union and the Commonwealth to observe the April polls.

Britain Tuesday, February 24, called for free and fair elections in the island and expressed the hope that the stalled peace talks could resume shortly after the poll.

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Last Updated Date: February 25, 2004  - 7.30 GMT.