Whoever wins, let the polls be free and fair

Nominations were closed at noon yesterday for the long delayed elections to 92 local councils. For the 248 other councils, nominations will be received from December 18 to 21. This biggest ever local council election with more than 8000 candidates contesting, will be significant in many ways. Foremost, the elections will be a test of the popularity of four major parties -- the United National Party (UNP), the Sri Lanka Freedom (SLFP) and the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by President Maithripala Sirisena, the joint opposition’s Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).   

Since independence in 1948, local council election results have shown that the ruling party or alliance is likely to win because people know that despite all the faults and failings it is the ruling party or parties which could allocate money or undertake big or small projects in different areas. It is clear this important factor will give a big advantage to the ruling UNP, the SLFP and the UPFA led by President Sirisena. But the SLPP and its leaders including Mahinda Rajapaksa and chief organiser Basil Rajapaksa are claiming the people have lost confidence in the national unity government and the SLPP with its allies could win up to 200 of the 341 municipalities, urban councils and pradeshiya sabhas to which elections are likely to be held on February 10 or 17 next year. Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya, doing an excellent and impartial job while maintaining he would impose tough regulations on those violating elections laws—told national television on Wednesday the commission would announce the date on December 24 and no politician or party would have a say in it.   

Elections are usually held on Saturdays mainly because it is a non-working day for most people and more are therefore likely to vote while it will cause little or no damage to the country’s economy or export-import trade. Mr. Deshapriya vowed  he and the Commission along with senior and junior presiding officers, counting staff and others would ensure a free and fair election, thus emphasising the sovereignty of the people.   

The Elections Commission’s Chairman has police powers also during the election campaign until the official results are announced. At the last election he was widely praised for ordering the police to open fire on the head on any person or gang attempting to disrupt the voting or counting or trying to prevent the people voting in any other way.   

Minister John Amaratunga who often speaks like the United States’ outrageous President Donald Trump was last week quoted as saying the police was under the National Unity Government and any opponents would be chased away. But other government leaders have clarified or disowned his statement and we hope that the police like the Elections Commission will act in the highest and the best interest of the sovereign people. Minister Arjuna Ranatunga has suggested that while the UNP and the Maithripala Sirisena-led SLFP and UPFA are contesting the local poll separately it would be good for them to work together at the Municipal, Urban and Pradeshiya Sabhas also so that Sri Lanka could have not only a National Unity Government but also National Unity Councils. This will pave the way to reach the economic and socio-political goals outlined in the Vision 2025 development programme so that Sri Lanka could move towards the creation of a peaceful just and all inclusive society where even the marginalised and poverty trapped people will have a say in the decision making processes.