Committee to probe if political parties named on racial, religious basis

• It was decided at the meeting to summon the four parties before the Commission on April 22, 2021

By Ajith Siriwardana  

The Elections Commission has decided to appoint a five-member committee headed by an Additional Elections Commissioner to look into and report whether registered political parties had been named on religious or racial basis. 

The decision was taken at the meeting of the Elections Commission held yesterday.  

The Committee will also look into whether the constitutions of the registered recognised political parties include clauses related to religious or racial matters.  

The Chairman and the Secretary of the Elections Commission and another member of the Commission are expected to supervise the task of the Committee.   The Elections Commission said in a statement that four political parties had failed to provide audited accounts for 2019 and it was decided at the meeting to summon the four parties before the Commission on April 22, 2021 and to suspend the recognition of the political parties that failed to provide the report on that date. 

• Four political parties had failed to provide audited accounts for 2019