TISL lists misuse of public property for election work

Monday, 2 September 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) in a letter to Election Commissioner has submitted more than 12 incidents of misuse of public property by numerous candidates with evidence. TISL has received over 40 complaints relating to the misuse of public property by numerous candidates and political parties for election propaganda work of the Provincial Elections. The incidents they have submitted to the Election Commissioner were investigated extensively by their field staff. TISL has requested the Election Commissioner to take necessary action in preventing such misuse of public property without delay and ensure a free and fair election during the forthcoming Provincial Council elections. The reported incidents are follows:

Puttalam District – the Madampe Cooperative Society premises is used to display cut-outs of UPFA candidates.
Inside the Puttalam bus stand is an office of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. It is illegal to run a party office inside the premises that belong to the State. Although notice has been given that the office should be removed, it is still in use.
Nuwara Eliya District – a section of the Ragala Cooperative Society building is being used by UPFA candidate S.B. Ratnayake as a party office.
The pick-up bearing license plate number JY 2938 belonging to the National Transport Commission is being used for election propaganda work in the Nuwara Eliya district.
Assistant Director of Education attached to Hatton Education Office addressed an election rally on 8 August 2013 and continues to do so.
38 graduates attached to Kurunegala Divisional Secretariat have been released on 23 August 2013 saying that they will be given permanent appointments. On inquiry, the Secretary told us that they have been released in accordance with the Combined Service Director General’s letter dated 14 August 2013.
An office of the UPFA candidate has been set up in a building close to the Ginigathena town, belonging to the Ginigathena Cooperative Society.
An election rally has been held inside the Chilaw bus stand by a UPFA candidate on 20 August 2013.
Member of Parliament M. Chandrakumar had called up 35 grama niladharis of the Karachchi Divisional Secretariat in the Kilinochchi District for lunch and requested them to support the UPFA candidate. The meeting had been held from 12 noon until 3 p.m. on 17 August 2013 – a ‘Public Day’ at the Secretariat.
The Divisional Secretariat office at Udaaludeniya in Gampola is being used by three UPFA candidates for election propaganda work.
A building belonging to the Puttalam Divisional Engineer’s Office is being used by UPFA candidate Chintaka Mayadunne as his office. Repeated requests by the Divisional Engineer’s Office to remove it have been ignored.
Several vehicles belonging to numerous ministries are being sued for election propaganda work along the Gampola-Kandy highway. There are no nmber plates on them.