MR violating election laws?

CaFFE lodges complaint with polls chief about ‘sil redi’ campaign:

by P. Krishnaswamy

A complaint was lodged against UPFA Kurunegala District candidate and former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Saturday (16), with the Commissioner of Elections, for alleged violation of election laws by distributing white cloth at various temples and promoting his preference number at religious ceremonies.

 Executive Director of Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), Keerthi Tennakoon, head of the election monitoring body that lodged the complaint, told the Sunday Observer, the former president and the main campaigner for the UPFA had purportedly distribute white cloth (sil redi) among devotees at several Buddhist temples in Krunegala on Saturday morning.

The deadline for all election propaganda was Friday midnight (15). According to CaFFE, the distribution of white cloth Saturday morning amounted to violation of election laws.

The complaint made to the Election Commissioner stated that Rajapaksa has commenced distributing white cloth among Buddhist devotees Saturday morning, with the first such meeting taking place at the Bauddaloka Privena at 9.30 a.m.

 Tennakoon told the Sunday Observer that according to information received, the former president had arrived in a fleet of over 10 vehicles, displaying his photograph and the preference number.

The former Head of State has visited temples in Wariyapola, Demataluwa, Dikwehera, Wedanda, Colombagama and Randeniya areas in the Kurunegala District. At certain places, the Special Task Force (STF) personnel on pre-election duty had stopped him and cautioned against the violation of election laws, CaFFE further said.

Human Rights lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner, J. C. Weliamuna, commenting on the purported election law violation told the Sunday Observer such acts amounted to ‘election bribery.’

“This has happened despite the Election Commissioner’s strict instructions to avoid violations of the law,” Weliamuna said.

The Election Commissioner was not available for comment but a top election official told the Sunday Observer that appropriate action will be taken based on the complaint and images received.

“It is an apparent violation,” the official said. Police Media Spokesman, ASP Ruwan Gunasekera said he was unable to comment on the matter as no complaints had been lodged either with the Kurunegala or Kuliyapitiya police stations.

Government Spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne told the Sunday Observer the Commissioner of election, who has the powers to act, should do so.

“The Commissioner has taken steps against minor violations committed by the government candidates and it would be appropriate if he were to extend the arm of the law to the former president as well,” he said.