Tuesday, 16 September 2014 00:15
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The election monitoring group, Peoples Action For Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) filed a motion at the Supreme Court yesterday over the drought relief program of the Government in the Moneragala District, ahead of the Uva elections.
PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachi said that the motion did not disrespect the Supreme Court ruling already given over the drought relief program and the right of the Government to assist the affected people.
However, he said the motion notes that the drought relief program targets people in a part of Moneragala when several other areas have also been affected by the drought.
PAFFREL also notes that the drought relief program is being carried out by officials from one political party and that could be unfair for other political parties contesting the Uva elections.
The Supreme Court had recently ordered the Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development to continue with the drought relief of Rs. 2,500, scheduled to be distributed among drought affected people in the Moneragala District.
The Ministry of Economic Development was to grant Rs. 2,500 as relief aid but some political party representatives and election observers engaged in the Uva Provincial Council Poll had filed objections before the Elections Commissioner regarding the provision of the relief to the people in the Moneragala District.
The Election Commissioner had decided to suspend the provision of relief taking into consideration the objections which were raised. (Colombo Gazette)
