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Polls staff a neglected lot, says COPSITU
By Nalaka Nonis
Public officials conducting elections have expressed their disappointment over the alleged negligence by successive governments in the country in respect of the valuable services rendered by them during elections. They say the governments in the past have taken little interest in looking into the problems faced by them during and after elections.

One of the main complaints has been the inadequate transport facilities provided to the election staff especially on the return journey. General Secretary of the Confederation of Public Service Independent Trade Unions (COPSITU) Adhikari Jayaratne told The Sunday Times that very often election staff are stranded when a curfew is imposed immediately after the close of elections. He said this has specially affected female staff.

"Only Rs. 10 is paid as travelling expenses for election staff to go from the polling station to the respective kachcheri while other emoluments paid to them are insufficient", he said.

Election staff are also often confronted with a security risk since the number of security personnel deployed at election booths is inadequate. COPSITU has requested the number of security personnel to be increased to at least ten for a polling booth.

It has also voiced concern over alleged political involvement in appointing election staff. It says politicians go to kachcheris in their respective areas and select the people whom they want as election staff in order to help rig the elections.

In a letter to the Elections Commissioner COPSITU has appealed to him to provide election staff with enough facilities for the forthcoming election. It had asked the Elections Commissioner to select buildings with enough facilities to house the polling booths which will be about 6,000 in number and ensure the security of staff, strictly enforce election laws, increase the number of mobile police units and introduce mobile first aid and welfare units.

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