Sri Lankan election officials are to check the backgrounds of candidates standing for election at the upcoming local government polls, the Sunday Times reports.
The directive came from the Election Commission which ordered District Assistant Commissioners to check if candidates had criminal records and if any former public servants standing for election were adhering to election law.
The decision to undertake background checks follows a statement by the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) that a number of candidates were "criminals and rapists".