Northern Governor engaging in election campaigning: CaFFE
Wednesday, 11 September 2013 01:37
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Polls monitors charge Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri is violating Establishment Code; urge a choice between politics and public service
Independent polls monitors yesterday slammed the Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri, saying his involvement in election campaigning was a violation of the Establishment Code governing the conduct of public servants.
The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) called on the Northern Governor to choose between public service and politics.
Issuing a media release yesterday, CaFFE Executive Director, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon said he was surprised and saddened by Chandrasiri’s decision to join United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) politicians for election propaganda activities.
“The role and responsibility of a Governor is detailed in article 154 (b) of the Sri Lankan Constitution. A Governor is appointed by the President and must carry out the duties assigned, thus his actions are executive actions. However by participating in election propaganda activities of a political party contesting for an area under his command, Chandrasiri has shown that he is not an independent person,” Tennakoon charged.
The election monitors said that it was crucial that individuals holding key positions act impartially during polls.
“This is doubly important for the Governor heading a Provincial Council in which there is an election as he is to convene the Provincial Council elected on 21 September. Although a Governor can have apolitical opinion, it is not ethical for him to engage in politics, as he is, first and foremost, a public servant and not a slave of a political party,” the CaFFE Chief said.
CaFFE said that the Governor of the Northwestern Province Tissa R. Balalla had engaged in similar activities but appears to have stopped such actions, at least temporarily, after continuous lobbying by election stakeholders.
While respecting Northern Province Governor’s right to political opinion, CaFFE reiterates that he should resign from his position if he wants to continue engaging in politics. If not he will have no moral authority to continue as Governor after the 21 September Provincial Council elections, the polls monitors said.
