The Election Commission (EC) is looking to purchase electoral or indelible ink (purple-coloured ink) from either India or South Korea after comparing the rates and the allocations made for the Local Government (LG) poll, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake said yesterday (29). 

Speaking to The Morning, he noted that an international quotation will be called for by the EC for this purpose. “Normally, we do not use our ink. We have to obtain permission from the Ministry of Defence before purchasing because it is a chemical. We cannot use used ink. We prepare for our own purpose. We get the composition of the ink done and get it checked with the Government Analyst. We change the composition in case someone else uses the same. 

“The usage of this ink is needed because it is in the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance as amended. If not, the ink is not needed because the National Identity Card (NIC) was made compulsory. The law to use the ink came into practice when the NIC was not compulsory. 

“However, it is still in the law, and therefore, we have to continue. We can call for quotations from other countries in addition to India, but, if the rates are compared, India would be suitable. We have to compare prices with the budgetary allocations for this purpose as well,” he added. 

He further noted that the EC held discussions yesterday with the Police Department, the Postal Department, the Government Printing Department and the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) in regard to the preparation for and security arrangements during the nomination period.

Ratnayake said that an allocation of Rs. 10 billion had been made for the upcoming election.

He also noted that normally, the EC deploys nearly 300,000 staff for election purposes including Police officers, but that it is yet to be finalised. 

When queried as to whether there will be any international election monitors, he said that it is yet to be decided and that there were no requests made from the EC either. 

“If there is any request, I think that the EC can consider  it. We think that it is not necessary, but if any international organisation wishes to observe, they have to get approval from the EC.”

Furthermore, he added: “We would provide arrangements to those with special needs for accessibility. We will deploy sign language users. We have given instructions to the Government Agents and the Deputy Election Commissioners especially in regard to nominations and in particular concerning security arrangements before and after the nomination period,” he added. 

Accordingly, the EC is expected to call for LG poll-related nominations before 5 January 2023.