21 complaints of illegal transfers of Govt. officials
February 7, 2014
Fifty-seven complaints had been lodged with the Complaints Unit set up at the Election Secretariat, with the majority of them pertaining to the illegal transfer of government officials.
According to a spokesman attached to the unit, of the 57 complaints which had been received to date, 21 pertain to the illegal transfer of State officials. Expressing his views to Ceylon Today, Executive Director of the Peoples' Action for a Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), Rohana Hettiarachchi, said his organization had received around 12 such complaints, which throws into serious doubt, the free and fair aspect of the impending polls.
"There have been several transfers and promotions of State officials during the pre-election period. By doing so, the government is indicating that they are yet again prepared to abuse the powers vested with them. These transfers are not of insignificant State officials. People such as directors and chairmen of various State-governed institutions have been either promoted or transferred. This is because the officials concerned support the government or on the other hand, they do not aid and abet the government to carry out certain actions during the pre-election period. If a particular head who is transferred or promoted is a zealot of the government, it would be easy for the regime to get its dirty work done through such an individual," Hettiarachchi opined.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Campaign for a Free and Fair Election (CaFFE), Keerthi Tennakoon, said the election watchdog had received 14 complaints pertaining to transfers of government officials. He however said that, the Elections Commissioner is permitted to execute such transfers.
"Transfers and promotions of government officials during the pre-election stage would undoubtedly affect the electoral process. But however, one should bear in mind that the Elections Commissioner is endowed with the power to sanction such transfers should he consider they are necessary. On the other hand, some of these transfers do not affect the electoral process to such a great extent. Most of the transfers, which have taken place are in the sectors of education and transport. So there are two sides to this issue," Tennakoon said.
Among other complaints received, both by the Complaints Unit of the Elections Secretariat and the election watchdogs are the illegal use of State vehicles, riotous gatherings, and the pasting of posters and cut-outs.
According to the Media Unit of CaFFE, it has received several complaints regarding illegal protests in the run up to the polls. The complaints made in this regard are from Beruwala, Deniyaya, Aluthgama, Akmeemana,Wattala, Kadawatha and Aldeniya.
However, the most number of complaints at present according to the Complaints Unit of the Elections Secretariat had been reported from the Western Province.
In addition, a Superintendent of Police (SP) has been stationed at the Complains Unit and the public could also lodge their complaints on the telephone no. 0112 877616 or fax the same to 0112 877614.
February 7, 2014Fifty-seven complaints had been lodged with the Complaints Unit set up at the Election Secretariat, with the majority of them pertaining to the illegal transfer of government officials.
According to a spokesman attached to the unit, of the 57 complaints which had been received to date, 21 pertain to the illegal transfer of State officials. Expressing his views to Ceylon Today, Executive Director of the Peoples' Action for a Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), Rohana Hettiarachchi, said his organization had received around 12 such complaints, which throws into serious doubt, the free and fair aspect of the impending polls.
"There have been several transfers and promotions of State officials during the pre-election period. By doing so, the government is indicating that they are yet again prepared to abuse the powers vested with them. These transfers are not of insignificant State officials. People such as directors and chairmen of various State-governed institutions have been either promoted or transferred. This is because the officials concerned support the government or on the other hand, they do not aid and abet the government to carry out certain actions during the pre-election period. If a particular head who is transferred or promoted is a zealot of the government, it would be easy for the regime to get its dirty work done through such an individual," Hettiarachchi opined.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Campaign for a Free and Fair Election (CaFFE), Keerthi Tennakoon, said the election watchdog had received 14 complaints pertaining to transfers of government officials. He however said that, the Elections Commissioner is permitted to execute such transfers.
"Transfers and promotions of government officials during the pre-election stage would undoubtedly affect the electoral process. But however, one should bear in mind that the Elections Commissioner is endowed with the power to sanction such transfers should he consider they are necessary. On the other hand, some of these transfers do not affect the electoral process to such a great extent. Most of the transfers, which have taken place are in the sectors of education and transport. So there are two sides to this issue," Tennakoon said.
Among other complaints received, both by the Complaints Unit of the Elections Secretariat and the election watchdogs are the illegal use of State vehicles, riotous gatherings, and the pasting of posters and cut-outs.
According to the Media Unit of CaFFE, it has received several complaints regarding illegal protests in the run up to the polls. The complaints made in this regard are from Beruwala, Deniyaya, Aluthgama, Akmeemana,Wattala, Kadawatha and Aldeniya.
However, the most number of complaints at present according to the Complaints Unit of the Elections Secretariat had been reported from the Western Province.
In addition, a Superintendent of Police (SP) has been stationed at the Complains Unit and the public could also lodge their complaints on the telephone no. 0112 877616 or fax the same to 0112 877614.
