Polls chief won’t gazette winners if assets not declared
By Ifham Nizam-August 21, 2013
The names of those to be elected to the three provincial councils, at the forthcoming polls, will not be gazetted unless they declare their assets and liabilities.
That assurance had been given to Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) by the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya, a TISL official said yesterday.
TISL’s Senior Manager for Advocacy and Public Relations Shan Wijetunge said that during their meeting with the Elections Chief, the latter had said that despite strong instructions issued to the 3,785 candidates in the polls to the North-Western, Central and Northern Provincial Councils, only one per cent had declared their assets and liabilities. "The Elections Commissioner had given them one month’s grace, but to date 99 per cent of the contestants have failed to come up with their declarations," Wijethunge told a press briefing in Colombo.
Wijetunge said that the deadline would be over on August 30. In the meantime, legal advice had been sought to decide on action should be taken against candidates who did not comply with the Elections Commissioner’s directive, he added.
"We urge the contestants, since there is only nine days left, to declare their assets and liabilities, Wijetunge said.
Thursday, 22 Aug 2013
Legal action will be taken against the Provincial Council (PC) election candidates who have not declared their assets and liabilities by 30 August, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), warned yesterday. Senior Manager, TISL, Shan Wijethunge, addressing the media, said so far only a miniscule 1% of the total 3,785 candidates – who are contesting the September PC elections have declared their assets and liabilities.