News
 		 

Competent Authority for state media?
Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake is studying the possibility of appointing a Competent Authority to ensure that political broadcasts of the Rupavahini and the SLBC during the election campaign are fair and balanced, a spokesman said last night.

Assistant Commissioner K. Senanayake said the Polls Chief had been closely studying the possibility of making the appointments during the past two days. The move comes after civic organisations urged the Commissioner to act under powers vested in him by the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.

The Rule of Law Centre, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), Institute of Human Rights, the Centre for Monitoring Elections Violence (CMEV) and the Organisation of Professionals Association (OPA) are among the groups urging the commissioner to also exercise other powers such as giving direct instruction to police officers on election duty. TISL Chief J.C.Weliamuna and OPA President Parakrama Karunaratne said they hoped the commissioner would take action to ensure voting rights of people in uncleared areas and the protection of public officers on election duty.
Top  Back to News  

Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.