Sunday, December 21, 2014
As the tension grows between the opposition common candidate and President Mahinda Rajapaksa, many have observed grave violations of the elections laws ahead of the election and they direct allegations at the government for misusing state property for the election campaign.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said that if there are complaints about any election violations, the complainants need to direct them to the relevant authorities with exact facts
Excerpts of the interview:
By Waruni Karunarathne
Q: There are many allegations of misusing state property for election campaigns. As the Election Commissioner what measures have you taken?
A: What are the exact allegations that you are referring to? When people say “state property” there are so many state owned properties – unless you exactly refer to an incident I cannot say anything in general.
Q: For example there are complaints about using Sri Lanka Transport Board buses for election campaigns?
A: We have informed the SLTB that they have to submit a report to us based on the buses that they deploy in daily basis during the election period. They are required to inform us if the buses are being paid or not paid if the buses are given to be used for any other activity besides public transport. The issue is that nobody sends us clear complaints naming the incidents. For example without just saying that there are 200 buses being misused, the complainants can provide us with the details like number plates of the buses and for which meeting they were deployed. Then we can inquire about the buses with those number pates from the relevant depots.
When we ask CTB they say that those parties paid for the buses. There has to be a proper way of providing information.
Q: How should such complaints be lodged?
A: Only Law can prevent certain election law violations. We need the support of the entire country to carry out necessary proceedings for the election. People and civil societies should be proactive in lodging the complaints with exact details to the relevant authorities. For example if we get a complaint about a government vehicle being deployed to put cut outs in some area, the complaint should be lodged to our complain centres in the relevant area with the details of the number plate and the specific place the incidents happen etc, so that our officials can go to the place and investigate the incident before taking necessary actions. Recently, I received a complaint about a female Samurdh officer in Avissawella canvassing with a crowd during her office hours. Instead of complaining to me, they could inform it to the Kachcheriya in the area and then through the Divisional Secretariat, relevant authorities can take the necessary steps. Nobody actually follow the right process to lodge complaints.
Q: Do you think that public is unaware of how to lodge such complaints?
A: Not only public but the political parties also do not follow the right process when lodging complaints. I have informed all our complaint centres to be vigilant, so people can lodge complaints to those centres as the incident happens. I have been telling these things at meetings with the representatives of the political parties.
Q: Do you think that there is a favourable environment for an election?
A: We don’t see an unfriendly environment for holding an election. Nobody has observed an unfavourable environment for an election. If there is any concerns of an unfavourable environment the opposition could have brought that into our notice. At least the opposition has to say so. But nobody says that there is an unfavourable environment.
Q: Have you given any directives regarding the use of state media for election campaigns?
A: Not only for the state media but in general we have sent directives to all the media organisations. For the first time we have issued them directives through a gazette notification. Media directives, even if they cannot be made fully effective through law, we have now gazetted those directives and thus they come into effect. Media stations should follow those directives. State media also have some responsibility under the Sentence 117 of the Presidential Election Act which we discussed with them.
Biased or unbalanced reporting can do lot of damage. More damage can be done by reporting only part of the story too. Everybody points their finger at the state media but the responsibility in this regard is up to all the media organisations.
Q: If the directives are not followed, what measures can you take?
A: There is a difference between Sri Lankan Election Commission and Indian Election Commission. The directives given by the Indian Election Commission are considered laws whereas our laws need to be passed through the parliament or can be made effective through the judiciary. According to my view, making those laws effective through judiciary, falls into the hands of the civil society and media organisations etc. But right now civil society activists and journalists in the country lack practice of taking these matters to the notice of the judiciary, which is harmful to the election process. In many Acts, laws state ‘you may’ but not give direct orders. Many such laws related to election law violations are very weak. For some laws there is no mechanism to implement the laws.
By Prof. Amal S. Kumarage
The choice of rapid road building as a catalyst to economic development, particularly post-war, is a judicious and timely strategy that must be commended.
(Lanka-e-News- 19.Dec.2014, 11.00PM) ‘The mega projects that have become bankrupt white elephants under this government will be decorated and made into lucrative green elephants,’ said Eran Wickremeratne , an economic specialist , a prominent banker , and UNP national list M.P.
National Movement for Justice (NMSJ), a movement that was initiated by Rev. Maduluwawe Sobhitha has planned to hold its first convention on December 23, 2014. The idea that ‘single issue common candidate’ should run at the next presidential election was mooted by Prof Kumar David. Because of the delicacy of the issue, it was suggested that it would be better to have a single issue common candidate without party affiliation. Even Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna appeared to be in favor of this idea. The unanimous decision was that Rev.Maduluwawe Sobhitha should run as the single issue common candidate at the next presidential election. Hence, it began as a new social movement with limited objectives but independent of oppositional political structures. An interesting point that should be emphasized is that NMSJ initiated a discussion aimed at the presidential election when the main opposition party, the United National Party, was in total disarray. Nonetheless, the emergence of NMSJ had become a stimulant for oppositional forces to rally around the issue of democracy that was highly curtailed by Mahinda Rajapaksa regime’s growing tendency towards authoritarianism. I think it was at the same time that another democracy movement, purawesi balaya. Was formed. However, a clear difference between two movements is visible although both have raised essentially common demands. While NMSJ may be placed in ‘center left’, puravesi balaya was grounded on neoliberal democracy. So I believe that the USA and EU preferred and might have supported the latter. Following usual new social pattern, NMSJ had developed short strategy of constitutional change focusing on the abolition of the executive presidential system and the setting up of independent commissions annulled by the 18th Amendment to the Sri Lanka Constitution.
| by Tisaranee Gunasekara
Interesting arguments and counter arguments emerge from the political stage in Sri Lanka these days as the campaigning for the Presidential election heats up. Political leaders on various pretexts claim guardianship of the nation. Both main candidates have made promises to create a better society focusing on discipline and moral order as well as the younger generation. Though the incumbent had ten years to do all this, and more importantly five years after the conclusion of the war, he has at last made a promise to create a disciplined society after winning the next election only. This seems to be an acknowledgement that the existing society is an ill disciplined one. An argument has also been advanced by politicians in the ruling coalition about a Western conspiracy to stop the country’s ‘development’ and ‘freedom’gained after winning the war.
International Observers (IO) visiting the country to monitor the presidential election will require a ‘special clearance’ along with a recommendation from the Elections Commissioner, to visit the Northern Province for monitoring purposes, Military spokesman Brig. Ruwan Wanigasuriya said yesterday.
Addressing a rally in Digana yesterday evening, Sirisena had stated that a large number of Ministers in the Rajapaksa regime own ethanol permits and are also involved in drug rackets.
SUNDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2014
“We are giving true reports to the president to help him rectify his weaknesses and go forward. But, he thinks we are doing a wrong. We too, can deceive him, like those around him, by saying he will get 65%. That will ruin him. We do not give these reports to the media. They are leaked to the media by those around him. We get assaulted after trying to do good,” State Intelligence Service chief, DIG Chandra Nimal Wagista has told his officers recently.
Sri Lankans are in for a big disappointment. The Pope may come next month, but Santa won’t be here this Christmas. For, we have two local Santas doing his job much better than he and his visit will be redundant. One of them is wearing a saataka and the other is in a waistcoat borrowed from Modi. The former is already showering goodies on the public and the latter is promising much more in a few weeks provided the people facilitate his ascent to power.