It has been uncovered that the National Identity Card (NIC) numbers of 16 persons provided in the nominations list of the Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) for the upcoming Western Provincial Council election are incorrect.

The NIC numbers of 9 individuals, named in the list of NSSP candidates contesting from the Gampaha District, are said to be NIC numbers which have not been issued by the Department of Registration of Persons while the NIC numbers provided by 4 candidates belong to different people.

 Meanwhile it is said that the addresses contained in the identity cards of 3 persons are false.

The Gampaha Division Crimes Unit is investigating the matter as per an order by the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court.

Last week police called in NSSP Leader, Dr. Vickramabahu Karunarathne for questioning over the inclusion of false names in the nominations list of his party.

An investigation was launched by police following a complaint by election officials in the Western provincial district of Gampaha over non-existent candidates among the list furnished by the Nava Sama Samaja (New Equal Society) Party.

The Gampaha Assistant Elections Commissioner Sunil Senaratne had filed the complaint stating that false names and details have been included in the list of 43 candidates, provided by the Trotskyist political party for the Western Provincial Council from the Gampaha District.

Police Spokesman’s Office stated that investigations conducted by the Gampaha Police later uncovered that 15 of the names and addresses provided in the list were false.

An attorney and a justice of peace who had confirmed the information in the nominations list with an affidavit were also called in for questioning at the Gampaha Police Station.