The Elections Secretariat is accepting nominations during a weeklong period from today (Feb. 19) for the upcoming parliamentary polls.

Twenty-two district secretariats across the island will receive the nominations, said the Elections Secretariat.

A candidate is allowed to be accompanied by only one other person to handover the nomination to the respective returning officer.

Police elections chief DIG Gamini Nawaratne said special security arrangements are in place for the duration of the nominations handover.

Also, political processions of any kind are banned until February 26, he said.

Meanwhile, nine independent groups have so far handed in cash deposits to contest the April 08 general election.

Three independent groups handed over their nominations in respect of the Nuwara Eliya district today morning, election officials said.The group leaders are S.Velusivalingam, Somasundaram Kailasamoorthy and Ms Indrani Ilukpitiya Gamage.