High level abuse of State properties reported at elections: PAFFREL

Election watchdog, People’s Actions for a Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) says that a large number of incidents of abusing public properties had been reported during the local government election period.

PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi has said that the monitors of the organisation had in their observations noted that a large number of election law violations were reported at the local government elections similar to other elections.

According to Hettiarachchi, elections monitors have observed that State officials had been reluctant to take action against some governing party members who had violated election laws.

PAFFREL has recommended that the district leaders of the political parties needed to work with more responsibility to ensure election related violence does not take place in their respective areas.

The organisation has called on political parties not to organise any processions, meetings and public rallies during the next 14 days following the conclusion of the elections.