Although it was said that the Temple Trees, the official residence of the Prime Minister, will not be utilised for political purposes, the Program for the Protection of Public Resources (PPPR) has witnessed the use of the premises to conduct various meetings and gatherings organised by the United National Front. 

In an official complaint to the Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya, the PPPR questioned the use of the Temple Trees to announce the formation of the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) on 12 July, which can be interpreted as misuse of public resources by the Prime Minister for political party purposes. 

A large number of ministers representing the coalition including Karu Jayasuriya, Champika Ranawaka, Rajitha Senarathna and Kabir Hashim were also witnessed at this meeting. 

The PPPR has also received credible information that a meeting to obtain the support of civil society organisations to the UNFGG will also be held at the Temple Trees in the days to come. 

During the 2015 Presidential election campaign a number of complaints were submitted to the Commissioner of Elections regarding the use of the Temple Trees by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa for propaganda purposes. TISL urges the Commissioner to take immediate action to prevent the reoccurrence of such misuse during the 2015 Parliamentary campaign.

State officials using Govt. vehicles for election asked to pay Rs 100,000 monthly fee 

The Government has instructed officials not to misuse state property in any way at the upcoming general elections, and has imposed a monthly fee structure for the users of state vehicles for election purposes.

The Cabinet of ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting yesterday has agreed to a proposal presented by the Finance Minister to charge a fee for the use of state vehicles by officials.

At a meeting held between the Commissioner of Elections and the general secretaries of the political parties it has been agreed that if the Prime Minister, the Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers and the officials for whom official vehicles have been allocated use the officials vehicles for the promotion of their Party/Candidature the relevant fees for the use of such vehicles should be paid to the relevant Ministries, the government cabinet spokesperson Minister Rajitha Senaratne said today.

The Commissioner of Elections has proposed that the Cabinet of Ministers should decide on the amounts to be charged in connection with the use of vehicles in this regard.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the recommendations made by the Minister of Finance.

A Payment of Rs. 100,000 per month will have to be paid for each vehicle used by the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Ministers of the Provinces, the Deputy Speaker of the House, the Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers and those who use vehicles provided by the government or by the provincial councils as a privilege to the posts being held by them for the promotion of their Party/Candidature.

The cost of fuel should also be borne by them personally when the vehicles allocated to them are being used for the promotion of their Party/Candidature.

All costs relating to the use of aircrafts or helicopters should also be borne by them personally when the aircrafts or helicopters are being used for the promotion of their Party/Candidature.

Payments for the use of vehicles should be made to their relevant Ministries/ Provincial Councils and relevant authorities. Payments relating to the use of aircrafts or helicopters should be made to the relevant institutions.