Poll panel to probe army deployment in North

A day ahead of Sri Lanka’s January 8 presidential polls, the country’s Election Commissioner said he was investigating complaints that the army was being deployed in parts of the island’s Tamil-majority Northern Province.

Addressing the media here on Wednesday, Chief Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said he had received complaints that security forces were deploying army personnel in the North, particularly the Vanni region (comprising Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya). “I have already taken this up with the army commander, who says he has not ordered troops to deploy,” he said.