News
PAFFREL will take legal action against those who violate polls laws
The People’s Action Front for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has warned it would take legal action against Ministry secretaries involved in giving job appointments and free goods to gain public advantage during the presidential election campaign.
PAFFREL’s Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said any complaint received in this regard would be looked at seriously and legal action would be taken against the Ministry secretaries held responsible for the action.
“If there is clear cut evidence of such misconduct legal action will be taken against the secretaries,” he said.
Already PAFFREL has received 20 complaints of job appointment distribution in ministries including the Mahaweli, Agricultural and Housing sectors.
Mr Hettiarachchi said the Ministry secretaries were expected to uphold the election laws and refrain from giving job appointments no matter whatever the directive obtained from the Minister concerned.
It is learned that the ministers of the ruling United National Party have been involved.
Meanwhile PAFFREL is also looking into 10 other complaints related to the distribution of cement, agricultural items and the conducting of political campaigns in schools.
PAFFREL has written to the National Election commission and to Public Administration Ministry Secretary regarding the complaints.
The Centre for Monitoring election violence (CMEV) also said it had received complaints regarding elderly persons being used in political rallies.
It is learned that party supporters had forcibly taken four elderly persons who were on a pilgrimage to the sacred Ruwanwelisaya to a meeting of presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, at Anuradhapura.
One elderly person who could not stand the heat and the long wait had collapsed and has been hospitalised.
In another incident a plan to take a group of about 50 people on a pilgrimage to the attamastana in Anuradhapura was stopped by the timely intervention of the CMEV. The elderly persons have been offered a free tour by the Welepanne Pradeshiya Sabha member Namal Pradeep Vijayakumara.
Also last week the laying of foundation stones took place for building of 79 houses at Kalawana in Ratnapura, by a UNP Pradeshiya Sabha member. The CMEV on a complaint received had informed the National Election Commission which had however given the go ahead if no political speeches were made.
Also the organisers have been asked to invite all political parties for the function. However the function had to be stopped within half an hour as invitations to political parties could not be distributed at short notice.
The first incident of violence was reported in Matale when a Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) member allegedly attacked a Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP) supporter who was hospitalised and received treatment for a week. The Police however had filed the case under a personal complaint category.