Dr. Karunaratne summoned by police
By Ruwan Laknath Jayakody
February 11, 2014
Police have summoned the Leader of the Nawa Sama Samaja Party (NSSP), Dr. Vickremabahu Karunaratne, to appear before the police today (11) at 10.00 a.m., in light of the false names and addresses of candidates that had been entered in the nominations list, the number of which had now risen to 16, sources said.
Out of the 43 names on the nominations list submitted from the Gampaha District for the Western Provincial Council elections by the NSSP on Thursday (6), 16 have turned out to be false, police said.
Sources also said that information pertaining to 27 names submitted was found to be correct, and these candidates are also residents of the Gampaha District.
While one person, D.N. Jayaneththi is said to have gone overseas on 16 January (Thursday), the addresses submitted by 15 others are false, and to compound the issue, all of them are not residents of the said addresses nor had they ever lived in the area, police sources added.
Meanwhile, the NSSP had stated that the names of Sarath Kumara Rajapakse and Sujatha Ashokamala Peter had been submitted by mistake. Names of candidates from the Retired Teachers' Association had been submitted through the NSSP's nomination list to allow a platform to address issues and concerns of retired persons.
Investigations conducted by the police at the request of the Elections Commissioner, Mahinda Deshapriya, and the Assistant Elections Commissioner of the Gampaha District, G.A.N. Senaratne, had led to discovering the fraud that had been perpetrated. Reportedly, birth certificates and national identity cards of migrants had also been used, sources further said.
Anyone found guilty of submitting false information vis-a-vis nomination lists, could face up to two years in remand prison and lose the right to vote or be registered as a voter for seven years, police sources stressed.
Police added: "Along with Dr. Karunaratne, we have also requested the female lawyer and the Justice of the Peace who had attested the sworn affidavits pertaining to the nomination list of the NSSP in the Gampaha District, to appear before the police on Tuesday (11)."
However, responding to the drama that has been unfolding, Dr. Karunaratne said, "The nominations are fine and we are continuing our campaign because the nominations had been accepted and therefore, they cannot and will not be cancelled. There is no issue concerning the 15 candidates. Regarding the criminal offence, our Gampaha District Agent and Leader had given a statement to the police, and investigations are underway. They will take necessary action, thereafter. We are also trying to locate Jayaneththi who is currently absconding. Jayaneththi is the President of the Retired Teachers' Association and it was he who had submitted these names."
Commenting on the issue, the Commissioner of Elections, Mahinda Deshapriya said: "The matter is currently under investigation by the police."
By Ruwan Laknath Jayakody
February 11, 2014
Police have summoned the Leader of the Nawa Sama Samaja Party (NSSP), Dr. Vickremabahu Karunaratne, to appear before the police today (11) at 10.00 a.m., in light of the false names and addresses of candidates that had been entered in the nominations list, the number of which had now risen to 16, sources said.
Out of the 43 names on the nominations list submitted from the Gampaha District for the Western Provincial Council elections by the NSSP on Thursday (6), 16 have turned out to be false, police said.
Sources also said that information pertaining to 27 names submitted was found to be correct, and these candidates are also residents of the Gampaha District.
While one person, D.N. Jayaneththi is said to have gone overseas on 16 January (Thursday), the addresses submitted by 15 others are false, and to compound the issue, all of them are not residents of the said addresses nor had they ever lived in the area, police sources added.
Meanwhile, the NSSP had stated that the names of Sarath Kumara Rajapakse and Sujatha Ashokamala Peter had been submitted by mistake. Names of candidates from the Retired Teachers' Association had been submitted through the NSSP's nomination list to allow a platform to address issues and concerns of retired persons.
Investigations conducted by the police at the request of the Elections Commissioner, Mahinda Deshapriya, and the Assistant Elections Commissioner of the Gampaha District, G.A.N. Senaratne, had led to discovering the fraud that had been perpetrated. Reportedly, birth certificates and national identity cards of migrants had also been used, sources further said.
Anyone found guilty of submitting false information vis-a-vis nomination lists, could face up to two years in remand prison and lose the right to vote or be registered as a voter for seven years, police sources stressed.
Police added: "Along with Dr. Karunaratne, we have also requested the female lawyer and the Justice of the Peace who had attested the sworn affidavits pertaining to the nomination list of the NSSP in the Gampaha District, to appear before the police on Tuesday (11)."
However, responding to the drama that has been unfolding, Dr. Karunaratne said, "The nominations are fine and we are continuing our campaign because the nominations had been accepted and therefore, they cannot and will not be cancelled. There is no issue concerning the 15 candidates. Regarding the criminal offence, our Gampaha District Agent and Leader had given a statement to the police, and investigations are underway. They will take necessary action, thereafter. We are also trying to locate Jayaneththi who is currently absconding. Jayaneththi is the President of the Retired Teachers' Association and it was he who had submitted these names."
Commenting on the issue, the Commissioner of Elections, Mahinda Deshapriya said: "The matter is currently under investigation by the police."
