Opposition protests against polls chief

By Niranjala Ariyawansha-2014-12-19

The joint Opposition yesterday rallied opposite the Election Commissioner's office and shouted slogans rajakari pehera herala Meko indan bulath kanawa – Jolly siyage malli wage, janathawata bana kiyanawa. This protest was launched by the election monitoring unit of common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

JHU General Secretary, Champika Ranawaka said yesterday that the Election Commissioner is not exercising his powers to prevent election law violations and repression directed at Opposition political parties by the government.
He appealed to the commissioner to take prompt action to prevent such illegal actions. Meanwhile, UNP Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva strongly rejected Election Commissioner's recent public statement that he would resign his post if he was unable to hold a free and fair election. "It is the bounden duty of the Election Commissioner to hold a free and fair election," he said.

He expressed these ideas at a Satyagraha held in front of Election Secretariat by common Opposition Party leaders demanding justice for all at the forthcoming election. The picket named, 'Street protest against vengeful repression' was attended by several political and civil society leaders.
A report on election law violations committed so far was handed over to the elections secretariat under the signatures of Champika Ranawaka, Attorney-at-Law Shiral Lakthilaka, Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe and Attorney-at-Law Nanda Muruththettuwegama.