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Last Updated : 2024-04-18 19:11:00
Elections Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya (MD) defended his action after reports surfaced he had sought special favours from the President’s office to bring down his son who was stranded overseas.
The allegations have raised concerns over the independence of the Elections Commission at a time when an election has been declared. Deshapriya had reportedly sought assistance to bring down his son Vidura Kasyapa Deshapriya, an Irrigation Engineer following a postgraduate course on a scholarship offered by the Government of Netherlands.
Vidura returned to Sri Lanka in a SriLankan Airlines flight from the UK. Deshapriya had reportedly reached out to the Presidential Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Among those, Deshapriya had reportedly communicated with Jayanath Colombage, Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations who is in charge of the operations to bring down stranded students and others from overseas. When contacted by Daily Mirror, Colombage acknowledged that Deshapriya had communicated with him but insisted that the normal process was followed to include his son in the list of students to be brought back.
“Yes he did speak to me,” Colombage said when asked whether Deshapriya spoke to him over the matter.
Colombage said that the Sri Lankan authorities were looking to accommodate students from the UK, Canada and Europe on the flight. “His son and a group of four fell into the same category. We also permitted another group from Geneva,” he said
However, Colombage insisted that there was “nothing unusual” over the matter as there were free seats available on the flight so Deshapriya’s son and a few others were included. “They followed the usual process. There was absolutely nothing unusual about this,” he insisted. Daily Mirror attempted to contact Deshapriya for a comment but he could not be reached.
However, he posted a statement on Facebook admitting that he had reached out to the President’s office with regards to his son, but insisted that he had not sought any special favours.
Deshapriya said that he had only forwarded request letters sent by his son and other to the President’s office and inquired if there was an issue to bring them back.
He insisted that he had never spoken to the President about this matter nor did the President speak to him.
Deshapriya also insisted that he did not attempt to use his powers as the Elections Commission (EC) Chairman to try and bring back his son. However, he said that if one feels he is guilty and that he had misused his powers as the Elections Commission (EC) Chairman, then he is prepared to step down. (Easwaran Rutnam)
BigEars Thursday, 07 May 2020 10:37 AM
The man has to step down if he has any ethics. He has lost faith.
Janaka Thursday, 07 May 2020 10:49 AM
Yes , you have to step down immediately, you have misused being the EC
Neville Jayakody Thursday, 07 May 2020 04:44 PM
He has not mis-used his powers, but been a good father to his son. What will you do if it happens to you, frankly I think you are a hypocrite!
charith seneviratne Thursday, 07 May 2020 03:50 PM
NO ONE NEEDS TO STEP DOWN. H.E The President of Sri Lanka the greatest nation in spite of this world turmoil is far above that kind of low down act of doing things and assisting people in a wrongful manner while his own son is in the USA where the pandemic has hit in full force. So whether it be the Elections Commissioner or anybody else remember one thing and that is my President will not do anything out side the norm with ulterior motives. The elections should be held as planned. The EC had better do it. When ever the elections are held the opposition all put together are going to lose and get kicked out lock stock and barrel. NO CHANCE.
Ralahamy Thursday, 07 May 2020 04:14 PM
So what? He has every right to seek protection from those in power, like any other father. Suppose, just suppose his son fall sick with COVID-19, our sympathy messages will not suffice. But it is for those in power to make sure they don't demand a POUND OF FLESH from the EC. Anyway this is utopian dream.
Abc Thursday, 07 May 2020 05:10 PM
Bloody blasting politicians their so called EC dont so at least some ethics in a situation like this... Shame on them
Buddhist Thursday, 07 May 2020 05:25 PM
Deshapriya has to step down at least from the post of Chairman and become a member of EC.
Lanka Thursday, 07 May 2020 05:28 PM
Big Ears and Janaka, ask your mate Hoole to step down before Deshapriya. He has done what any father would have done to safeguard his child.
Westfield Thursday, 07 May 2020 06:44 PM
You can't write a letter. Your son should write because he knows what is law and order and he was a engineer too.
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