UNP: What’s govt. doing to curb election law violations?

Chief Opposition Whip MP John Amaratunga told Parliament yesterday that relatives of ministers and other ruling party politicians were violating the election laws by abusing public property including vehicles and demanded to know what action the government had taken to put an end to those illegal practices.



Making a special statement in Parliament MP Amaratunga said that even election monitoring groups had complained to the Commissioner of Elections of such offences.

Full text of MP Amaratunga’s statement: "The current elections to the Provincial Councils, especially in the Central and the North-Western Provinces, have seen scores of candidates who are in some way or the other closely related to Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Government Parliamentarians.

"Very many of these candidates are the son, wife, brother, nephew and so on of those politicians.

"This has resulted in these parliamentarians misusing their facilities such as, vehicles, staff and security personnel, photocopy machines, e-mail and internet facilities and also overtime allowances to promote the candidature of their relations mentioned above.

"What is manifest in the way the Ministers and their relatives act is that in no way will there be a fair and free election this time.

"This is not only a violation of State Administrative and Financial Regulations but also a violation of Election Rules and hence its responsibility should directly be borne by the relevant candidates.

"Further, the mentors of these candidates meddle in the duties of the Elections Staff and the Police thus rendering it much difficult for the Police to perform their duties impartially.

"Even Election Monitoring Groups have complained to the Commissioner of Elections about this trend.

"The absence of independent Elections Commission, Police Commission, Public Service Commission and Judicial Commission is a major reason for this situation.

"Therefore, will the Government inform this House, whether it will take early action to prevent these violations of election rules? Whether the improper use of Government vehicles, public properties and staff for election purposes will be stopped forthwith? Of the actions to be taken by the Government against the candidates who are misusing public property for election purposes by violating Election Rules? Whether it will take action to hold a free and fair election?