🗳️ Cabinet Approves Removing Indelible Ink Requirement for Elections

The Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved a proposal to remove legal provisions requiring voters to be marked with indelible ink during elections, moving toward a single verification system based solely on valid identity cards. • Financial Impact & Efficiency: The election monitoring group PAFFREL welcomed the decision, stating it could save approximately Rs. 100 million of public money per election. The Government noted the dual-method system hinders polling station efficiency and incurs unnecessary costs. • Official Stance: The Election Commission supported the move, stating there is no possibility of electoral fraud or impersonation following the removal, as the decision aligns with a proposal it submitted several years ago. • Security Concerns: Critics argue doing away with the ink may increase risks of impersonation, as ID photographs can be outdated, and historical contexts like forged IDs or stolen cards remain a concern. Indelible ink has historically served as a critical secondary security check to prevent duplicate voting. _Note: Sourced from reported Cabinet decisions and monitoring group assessments._