58,700 police personnel will be deployed for election duties while another 19,500 personnel from the three forces, Army, Air Force and Navy - will also assist the police for the April 8 General elections and the post election period.

Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya said yesterday at a media briefing that the Police are geared to face any situation during and after the elections.

The Senior DIGs and DIGs of the nine provinces have been directed to advice their respective Officers in Charge of the Police Stations to remove all cut-outs and hoardings before April 5 midnight.

Each candidate will be allowed to have their political office within a 500 meter zone from the polling-booth. Maximum security will be provided for postal employees to distribute polling cards during the week days and on Sundays.

The Police will also have 2,584 mobile units on patrol round the clock on the election day. Each unit will comprise three policemen and two personnel from the forces to ensure security for the voters, quoting the IGP Daily News reported.

Senior DIG Gamini Navaratne who is in charge of the Police Elections Secretariat will be tasked to ensure the IGP’s directions are complied with.

“Our main aim is to maintain law and order during the election period. To achieve this objective the police need the maximum assistance of the candidates and the public,” quoting the IGP, Daily News reported.

Candidates from 36 political parties and 306 Independent Groups are contesting at the forthcoming general elections, Daily News reported.

7,620 candidates are contesting in the forthcoming general elections, the IGP added.