Govt members surveyed on main elections PAFFREL inspired by Korean election model

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Mr. Wickremesinghe only asked them to read the Mahawansa which has chronicled the country’s ancient history shaped and molded by Buddhism.  He even said the country’s rulers should always consult Mahanayakes

he government members received a piece of paper with five questions mentioned, at a workshop conducted on Monday in Beruwala. The workshop, meant for all the ruling party members, was graced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

In this manner, their opinions were sought on whether the government should opt for a parliamentary election or presidential election first.  It was a survey, and the members had the chance to express their views confidentially.

During the workshop, the ministers and deputy ministers spoke out various matters concerning the present state of affairs. At one point, Deputy Minister Sarath Weerasekara and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) MP Mohamed Azlam had a heated argument over the communal riots that broke out in Aluthgama, Beruwala and some nearby areas causing wanton damage to lives and property.

Mr. Weerasekara tried to drive home the point that the incidents were triggered by the attack on a Buddhist monk.  However, Mr. Azlam shot back giving a detailed account of the circumstances that led to violence.

The President addressed the workshop at the end of the workshop, and expressed confidence that his party could win whatever election was conducted first.  Emphasizing the need for unity among alliance partners within the government, he said the local issues should not be internationalised.




Govt readies for Uva polls

As the government is getting ready for the dissolution of Uva Provincial Council (UPC) to be dissolved this week, the complaints remain that the state machinery has already dispatched its officials and resources to supervise development projects clandestinely planned for electoral benefits.

The UPC is slated to dissolve at the end of this week, so that the election can be conducted by early September. It is the last of the series of provincial council elections conducted on a staggered basis over a couple of years.  It holds special significance because it precedes a major election – either parliamentary or presidential.  It will serve as a litmus test to ascertain the standing of each party, ahead of a main election likely to be conducted early next year.

The abuse of state resources - both physical and human - was not something new to any election   conducted in the recent past in Sri Lanka. Therefore, election monitors, as pressure groups working for free and fair elections and voting rights of individuals, have been strained in endevouring for level playing fields for political parties in the fray.





PAFFREL seeks insights from Korean election model
Against this backdrop, People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has decided to create awareness among people on the modern, democratic election practices in different parts of the world.  

The South Korean model is one such model being promoted by PAFFREL in this respect. Its Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi, who attended a related workshop in Korea, has worked out a dossier to be shared with the authorities concerned.

The South Korea Election Commission and the Association of World Election Bodies conducted this workshop between May 31 and June 4 in South Korea.  An independent election has not yet been appointed. But, in South Korea, a powerful commission is in place. It comprises nine members for an official term of six years - three persons each nominated by the President, Parliament and the Chief Justice. Traditionally, it is chaired by a Supreme Court judge.

In that country, voter registration is done annually after a hectic enumeration process that involves a lot of administrative work.  It is a costly exercise.  However, South Korea does not follow annual registration process. Only the birth certification suffices in this respect.

The dossier prepared by PAFFREL says, “Anyone is entitled to exercise his or her franchise after completion of    19 years. In South Korea, it has been successful mainly due to the well maintained computerised mechanism in operation. It is high time for Sri Lanka to consider the introduction of such an online system though it cannot be evolved overnight.  A person needs the recommendation of at least one-thirds of voters to be an independent candidate.   

In Sri Lanka, anyone can contest elections as an Independent Candidate if he or she is able to make the cash deposit determined in terms of the Local Authorities’ Election Law. Therefore, it is common to see a large number of independent groups in the fray at every election. That is done strategically to campaign, as proxies of candidates fielded by major parties.  These proxies use all the benefits allotted for them to campaign for main party candidates.

It makes undue influences on the democratic system. When there are so many candidates in the fray, the Department of Elections naturally gets a heavy administrative workload, in addition to extra financial costs involved by way of printing more ballot papers etc.   

But, the South Korean system does not allow this to happen.

However, in South Korea, a person should secure the recommendation of one-thirds of the voters in a particular constituency to contest as an independent candidate.   As a result, individuals, even with money power, cannot contest elections unless they get prior public recommendation.






Police Reports on Candidates
A candidate should register himself to contest a local authorities’ election.  For that, he or she should submit the following reports;

Asset declaration reports, military service reports, reports of tax payment and evasion, criminal records, educational qualifications.
A separate account for election related expenses  

There is no expenditure ceiling for candidates contesting elections in Sri Lanka. So, candidates spend lavishly on electioneering, as witnessed during recent elections.  This has led to a situation where moneyed candidates having an edge over others in the run up to elections.

However,   it is mandatory for candidates to maintain a separate account in South Korea in connection with their election-related transactions.  The transactions, related to their election propaganda, should be done through this account.  Within 30 days prior to the election, their income and expenditure reports should be submitted to the   Election Commission.  In addition, their expenditure reports should be published for the public knowledge within three months.  The Election Commission has the authority to seek details about the statutes of such accounts at any time.   The Financial Institutes are bound by law to release such details to the Commission.
Expenditure is proportionate according to the voter population of the respective constituencies.

The maximum amount of expenditure, to be borne by a candidate is determined in proportion to the size of voter population in constituencies.  The amount is announced ten days prior to the registration of candidates.

If candidates make any excess payment in conformity with the law, such money will be reimbursed by the Commission.   For that candidates are required to submit supportive documents related    to their additional expenses. The Commission, within 60 days, will reimburse such expenses.
The survey results are banned closer to election days.

The results of opinion polls are announced during elections.   The political parties and candidates, slated to win, are published in this manner.  It is apparent here that such opinion polls are conducted to suit political interests.  Once such results are published, it influences voters. However, the South Korean election system has prohibited the announcement of such results during the last six days preceding the day of polling.







A ten-fold high penalty on bribes
Candidates and their supporters have been prohibited from offering cash or any other form of inducements to   voters during elections.  If they are found guilty of such offences, they will be liable to a fine which is 10 to 50 times higher than the value of inducement offered.     In this manner, South Korea has controlled voters being bribed.






A limit on propaganda activities
In Sri Lanka, a candidate can put up any number of posters and cutouts depending on its affordability.

In South Korea, candidates can put up posters which are equal in size and number, determined by the Election Commission.   The Commission holds the responsibility for the display of posters in an equitable manner. The places for it will be determined by the Commission at local levels.  






Special arrangements for voters
Ahead of the elections, separate polling stations are set up in South Korea, especially for voters in their localities when they face difficulties in turning up at main polling stations on polling days.  It will be done five days ahead of the day of polling. A voter can exercise his or her franchise at any polling station by producing their National Identity Cards. The geographical area of their residence does not matter in this instance. Once the Identity Card is produced, polling card is issued at the polling station concerned. No prior registration is required for this purpose.







Voting rights for expatriate South Koreans  
South Koreans living abroad can cast their ballots at polling stations established at the South Korean Diplomatic Missions embassies in the host countries.  Besides, South Koreans, engaged in long-term fishing activities, voting facilities while being out at sea.
There are around two million Sri Lankans. If they are given facilities to vote from their host countries, it will be a number large enough to influence the final outcome of an election.







Ranil’s discourse on Buddhism and history
United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed a meeting in Galle last Sunday. He spoke a lot about Buddhism and history and the party men   were glued to his speech right throughout. Later, some district leaders of the party   approached him and asked, “Sir, how have you mastered Buddhism and history to such an extent?”

Mr. Wickremesinghe only asked them to read the Mahawansa which has chronicled the country’s ancient history shaped and molded by Buddhism.  He even said the country’s rulers should always consult Mahanayakes.  Instead of consulting them, he said, the appointment of other members of Maha Sangha as presidential advisors, was a wrong practice.

When he was at the meeting, he dialed a telephone number on his mobile and walked down the stage. Later, he informed the participants that he wished former President Chandrika Kumaratunga over the phone on her birthday.

The meeting was convened to felicitate the UNP Galle electoral organisation for winning the last Provincial Council Election. The Galle electorate was the only one secured by the UNP.  However, party’s Habaraduwa Organiser Lionel Ipalawatte and Balapitiya Organiser Kamal Jayantha expressed their resentment on the inadequate seating arrangements for them to sit.   They spoke out in this regard, and said, “It was not surprising   that the UNP won the Galle electorate. The UNP won it because the Muslims voted as a bloc. Otherwise, it is not a miracle of the party’s Galle electoral organiser.”







SLMC seeks sufficient remorse
Over the recent violence in Aluthgama and Beruwala, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) still remains distraught with the government. The party leadership is of the view that the government has not yet been able to express ‘sufficient remorse’ over the incidents. Party leader Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem accused that the government was only apportioning blame    on both the communities on the incidents.

“They are yet to express sufficient remorse,” he said.

Minister Hakeem said he briefed the foreign envoys about the situation.  







Nirmala in a narrow escape
Project Minister of Highways Nirmala Kotalawala recently undertook a visit to the Ruwanwella electorate in the Kegalle district. That is to participate in the function to mark the initiation of construction work on the Warakapola-Anguruwella Road. For that Rs.8000 million has been apportioned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. After the commemorative plaque was unveiled, the Minister and the team crossed the Galoya Bridge to rev the engine of the Backhoe Machine to be used in road construction.  This is a bridge constructed 66 years ago, and 500 feet in length. The absence of protective railings on either side of the bridge inconvenienced both drivers and pedestrians alike. In fact, it is a deadly experience to drive through it.

However, Provincial Minister Parakrama Athauda, the son of senior Minister Athauda Seneviratne, was assigned to rev the engine ceremonially. With the revving of the engine, the digging fork of the Backhoe raced forward unexpectedly, and Mr. Kotalawala had a narrow escape.

Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Mahipala Herath, who was present, pushed aside Mr. Kotalawala by his hand, to avert the impending danger.    

After a while, Mr. Kotalawala, smilingly   remarked, “I do not know whether Parakrama got a contract from a Kalutara district politician to destroy me.”  Mr. Kotalawala is from Kalutara, and there is rivalry among politicians even within the same party in that district, as common in other parts of the country.