TISL’s Programme for Protection of Public Resources (PPPR) has released the third report highlighting abuses of state assets in the current Parliamentary Election campaign.
The election laws require campaigning to end 48 hours prior to the day of any election. However, it is disheartening to note that the candidates, parties and the media institutions have failed to adhere to this stipulation.
The campaigning continued by way of placing advertisements in the media, mobile text messages and house- to- house campaign in violation of the law.
The integrity of the election is clearly marred by the failure of all parties, candidates and the media to adhere to the directives of the Commissioner of Elections.
Election campaign was marred by blatant abuse of public resources with impunity and weak implementation of the law on the part of the Sri Lanka Police and the failure of the authorities such as the Elections Commission to take action are reasons for this abuse says the Program for Protection of Public Resources of Transparency International in its report issued yesterday.
Even on the eve of the Election, large cut-outs and other propaganda material were displayed along the main roads. The abuse of public resource coupled with the inefficiency of the Police is seriously lowering the integrity of the election as a whole statement said.
It has been confirmed that many persons holding important positions in the public sector are engaged in electioneering. Though a no campaign period has been declared by the Commissioner of Elections from April 6, 2010, the candidates continued their campaigns through advertisements in the media, mobile text messages and house- to- house campaigns disregarding the directive of the Commissioner of Elections statement further said.
Text of the statement is follows
Two buses belonging to the Technical Colleges in Ratnapura and Anuradhpura bearing numbers NA-6916 and NA 6912 have been released for a training program to be held in Galle from 5 – 15 March, 2010. However these buses were not returned to the said respective Training Colleges and are being used for election related work in all the Galle District.
70 Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) were used to transport supporters of the UPFA for a campaign meeting held in Vavuniya by Minister Rishad Bathiyudeen on April 1, 2010. President Mahinda Rajapakse addressed this meeting.
Buses belonging to the Nittambuwa depot bearing numbers GP 9872, 69-591 and 63-1472 were sent for election campaign work to Galgamuwa on March 27, 2010. Buses bearing numbers NA 4151 and NA 3859 from the said depot were sent to Vavuniya to transport supporters for an election rally.
Two Rosa buses bearing numbers 62-5955 and NA 6975 belonging to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) have been sent to Colombo to be used for the election work of Hari Gupta Rohanadeera. The drivers are paid their batta and overtime despite being involved in election campaign activity in Colombo.
The PPPR in its reports issued on March 24, 2010 and April 4, 2010 the level of abuse of government employees for election related work. This is a violation of the directives issued on February 13, 2010 by the Commissioner of Elections against abuse of public resources.
The following are further instances of the use of government employees for the election campaign.
It has been confirmed that many persons holding important positions in the public sector are engaged in electioneering. The following persons have endorsed the candidature of certain candidates in advertisements published in the newspapers. Professor Shanika HImburegama, Vice Chancellor Colombo University, Dr. S.A.Weliwegama, Sri Lanka Chemistry Institute, Dr. N.L.A Karunaratne, Kamalsiri Mallikarachchi, Deputy Registrar Sri Jayewardenapura University, A Ketapotaarachchi, Senior Assistant Registrar, Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology University of Kelaniya, Abeyratne Samarakoon, Senior Assistant Librarian Kelaniya University, K.K.A.S Premadasa, Principal Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya Kadawatha, N.G. H. Namalgamuwa, Research Officer, Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology University of Kelaniya, Udayangani Karunathileke Bandara, Research Officer Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology University of Kelaniya and V.S Iroshan, Research Officer Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology University of Kelaniya.
Mr. Gamini Wickramasingha, Chairman Bank of Ceylon (BOC), Mr. Dhanapala Senior Area Manager BOC and other officials of the said bank attended a campaign meeting of Presidential Advisor and former MP Basil Rajapakse in Ja-ela. The meeting was organised to solicit support of the employees of the Central Bank, Bank of Ceylon and the People’s Bank who are Gamapaha District residents. The Chairman BOC called on the participants to vote for candidate Basil Rajapakse.
The PPPR reported in its report issued on March 24, 2010 listed the participation of Secretary Defence, Gotabhaya Rajapakse at political campaign meetings of candidates. The trend has not ceased and the Commissioner of Elections appears to be unable to persuade the Secretary Defence to refrain from engaging in electioneering. The Secretary Defence has addressed a Kotte SLFP Balamandalaya meeting on April 6, 2010. This was reported in the The Island on April 7, 2010. The newspaper also stated that the Secretary Defence addressed a series of meeting in support of several UPFA candidates.
80 Assistant Instructors of the Department of Technical Education & Training have been transferred to Galle District to engage in election related propaganda work of Minister of Vocational Training, Piyasena Gamage.
One Assistant Director of Education, five Principals and seven teachers have been campaigning for Anuradhapura District UPFA candidate Duminda Dissanayake during school hours on March 19, 2010. The campaigning activities were carried out in the Saliyapura, Shantipura and Nachchiyaduwa areas. The names of teachers are as follows.
-Saman Chandrasekera – K.B. Ratnayaka Vidyalaya
– D. S. Seneviratne – Diulwewa Vidyalaya
– K.A. Ananda- Diulwewa Vidyalaya
– Alwis Edirisinghe- Principal Parasangahewewa Vidyalaya
– Rajapakse- Principal Urawankulamawewa Vidyalaya
– Seneviratne- Principla Saliyamala Maha Vidyalaya
– Dissanayake- Principal Deaf and Blind School
– Sarath Ariyasena- Walasinghe Harishchandra Vidyalaya
– Lanka Prasad- Niwaththaka Chaiththaya Vidyalaya
-J.A.J Weerakkody- Niwaththaka Chaiththaya Vidyalaya
– Lalith Nandana- Parasankulama Vidyalaya
– R.M.K Rajapakse- Principal Bulankulama Vidyalaya
-B.M.N Abeyratne- Assistant Director of Education
On March 22, 2010, H.M.K Jinapala, Director Education North Central Province had called for a meeting of teachers to discuss the proposed development of an education scheme. Ananda Kularatne, Secretary, Ministry of Education, Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake and UPFA candidate Premasiri Hettiarachchi were also present. Though this meeting was to discuss and develop the education scheme, this meeting was in fact an election propaganda meeting in support of candidate Duminda Dissanayake, also the son of Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake.
Chapter XXXII of the Establishments Code clearly prohibits government employees from engaging in election campaign activities.
The above mentioned activities of the government employees are in direct contravention of the provisions of the Code. In addition, they are violations of the directives of the Commissioner of Elections issued on February 13, 2010.
The election laws require campaigning to end 48 hours prior to the day of any election. However, it is disheartening to note that the candidates, parties and the media institutions have failed to adhere to this stipulation.
The campaigning continued by way of placing advertisements in the media, mobile text messages and house- to- house campaign in violation of the law.
The integrity of the election is clearly marred by the failure of all parties, candidates and the media to adhere to the directives of the Commissioner of Elections.
Abuses of state resources seem to be the norm across the world anymore. Thanks for a good article, I hope we can come together to change the system.