Transparency Intl. Sri Lanka exposes pre-Presidential poll violations

• Alleges staff attached to Road Development Authority used for election propaganda work; school buildings  misused

More than 300 officers and other staff attached to the Road Development Authority, which functions under the Ministry of Road Development, are being used for election propaganda work. A complaint to this effect has been submitted by Transparency International Sri Lanka to Mahinda Deshapriya Commissioner of Elections. In a letter to the Commissioner, TISL has given details unearthed by the Program for Protection of Public Resources (PPPR) on how these officers and staff have been utilised for election work. TISL has requested the Commissioner to inquire into the matter and find out whether the relevant officers have been granted official leave and an allowance as well. The letter sent by TISL’s Executive Director, S. Ranugge states: PPPR has received photographs and videos evidence of staff attached to the Road Development Authority (RDA) carrying out campaigning activities in several districts including Puttlam, Matara, Galle, Vavuniya and Ratnapura. According to the information received, this entire exercise is an order made by higher authorities and thus the workers have no choice but to carry out the propaganda related work; as such the PPPR network witnessed RDA officers, in uniform, pasting posters in several districts. TISL’s Program for Protection of Public Resources (PPPR) earnestly request you to pay immediate attention to this misuse of public officials and public property and take necessary remedial action in order to conduct a free and fair election. It was observed that several school buildings have been used for the promotional campaigns of the presidential candidate from the UPFA, Mahinda Rajapaksa.   Kirulapona  Last Sunday, 30 November, SLFP’s Colombo East electorate coordinator hosted a party rally at Mahamathya Maha Vidyalaya in Kirulapona. More than 100 electoral members have participated in this meeting. Handbills and flyers carrying an image of President Mahinda Rajapakshe have been distributed during the meeting. On 30 November there had been a meeting held in Ananda Balika Vidyalaya in Hingurakgoda for the members of the Civil Security Force in Polonnaruwa district to promote candidacy of the UPFA presidential candidate. The workshop was hosted by the Civil Security Force. An UPFA campaign meeting was held in Iddamalgoda Vidyalaya in Eheliyagoda. According to the information received, the said campaign was organised by the Minister for Power and Energy Pavithra Wanniarachchi. On 30 November another election campaign was held with the participation of Minister Arumugam Thondaman at the Kotagala CLF College. Several announcements have been made there requesting the participants to vote for the presidential candidate representing the UPFA. PPPR has requested the Election Commissioner to take immediate action to stop using school building for election campaigning, as there is a great possibility of it recurring in the coming days with the advent of the school holidays.