MR cannot enjoy special privileges as ordinary candidate –Akila Viraj UNP candidate pinpoints

(Lanka-e-News-16.July.2015, 10.30PM)  The deposed president Mahinda Rajapakse is now an ordinary candidate , therefore , the security detail provided and privileges accorded to him shall be whittled down . UNP media spokesman and education minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has made this request in writing to the Elections commissioner.

The former presidents were   accorded special privileges to enable them to   act with honor , but the defeated president is now just an ordinary candidate at the general elections , hence granting him special privileges to him is to place the other candidates in an invidious position , and is unfair by them , Akila Viraj has pointed out to the Elections ommissioner.Without granting him special privileges, if he is given privileges at ministerial level , that may not be an issue , Akila Viraj had stated. 

In addition, minister of justice Wijedasa Rajapakse at Maharagama yesterday when addressing a public gathering said, laws are to be formulated to prevent double privileges being granted to deposed president Mahinda Rajapakse if he is to be appointed as an ordinary M.P . The privileges he enjoyed while he was president shall  be withdrawn and only those which he is entitled to as an M.P. must be granted based on the new laws , he pinponted. 

The Elections commissioner answering queries posed by Lanka e news in this connection revealed ,he cannot take a decision on this , and a court decision delivered after seeking court advice must be abided by .

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by     (2015-07-16 17:18:44)