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Last Updated : 2024-05-20 08:53:00
9 May 2024 06:32 am - 22 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Colombo, May 9 (Daily Mirror) - The government’s development drive ahead of the presidential election met with stiff resistance from the Election Commission (EC) which barred the involvement of political representatives of the ruling side in any such activities, an official said.
The EC looked into a complaint from the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), a poll observer group, about the impact of the involvement of politicians to carry out election propaganda in the guise of carrying out development work at divisional secretariats areas.
The government has instructed all district secretaries to take measures to complete development projects using money allocated under the decentralized budget before July 31. The PAFFREL raised concerns that such an expedition of development projects ahead of the declaration of the presidential election will have a beneficial effect on the ruling side, and therefore sought the intervention of the EC to ensure that no party or candidate gains political mileage.
The EC that met on Tuesday observed the points raised in the letter sent by the PAFFREL and wrote to the Secretary to the President, Saman Ekanayake, asking him not to involve any politician in such development project implementations.
Asked for a comment, EC Chairman R.M.A.L Ratnayake told Daily Mirror that the local authorities’ election had been declared at the moment though the conduct of polling had been put on hold indefinitely.
“In that case, we asked the government not to have participation of candidates in any of these projects to be implemented. Also, as far as other development projects are concerned, we asked the government in our letter not to have political participation. We mentioned about the presidential election pending,” he said.
However, he said the EC had no right to stall development projects.
“We only asked the government to ensure that such projects are implemented with the participation of bureaucrats only,” he said.
Meanwhile, the EC has initiated work arranging logistics for the conduct of the presidential election to be declared after July 15 and concluded on a day in early October.
Priyanee Wijesekera Thursday, 09 May 2024 06:50 AM
It is only after nomination day that candidates should refrain from participating in such propaganda.
Apple Polisher Thursday, 09 May 2024 10:34 AM
Looks like EC is playing politics. There is no law against such practices till the day they declare the elections.
Dr Saman Thursday, 09 May 2024 12:15 PM
Correct decision by the EC - Presidential election is due in a few months. So it is common sense
Dr Saman Thursday, 09 May 2024 12:15 PM
Correct decision by the EC - Presidential election is due in a few months. So it is common sense
Nimal Thursday, 09 May 2024 07:11 AM
There is no doubt that this wretched government, being the miserable failure that it is, is using every strategy at its disposal to gather people's support at the forthcoming elections, whether they be ethical or not. However, all these are vain attempts in the wake of the growing resentment against it. People have already made their minds as to who they should vote.
Can Bureaucrats initiate anything on their own? Thursday, 09 May 2024 07:22 AM
It is our experience that any, if at all, development projects are conducted, it is done targeting the pending election. Once the hassle of election is over, and elected ones have occupied their seats, nothing moves, except the expenditure vouchers. Voters know that bureaucrats do not initiate anything on their own. This is the culture here.
Jagath Ekanayake Thursday, 09 May 2024 07:24 AM
This waste of tax money on election propaganda must be recuperated from the rail Rajapaksa criminal party.
Nilmini Welivita Thursday, 09 May 2024 07:27 AM
How can much-needed funds allocated for a country's development be propaganda? The president, like the Hon. Rajapaksa family, has the best interest of the people of the nation. People are just brainwashed with SJB and NPP propaganda.
Feel Sorry for Gullible Fools Thursday, 09 May 2024 11:52 AM
And who got the country to a bankrupt situation ? How come none of them are not feeling the effects of this economic disaster and moving about lavishly whilst the average citizen is struggling? They have found ways to milk off the country whilst in power for the many years and people like you will accept some peanuts and rice packets to keep yourself busy and happy.
Tissa Fernando Thursday, 09 May 2024 12:54 PM
Hey Feel Sorry..Guy, who got the country bankrupt, Yahapalana government who borrowed 18 Billion in the open market for funding Food bill for the guys like you freebies. Of course Gota reduced taxes which was also beneficial for you guys and ok Fertilizer fiasco you can say. Covid was another great contributor. JVP and SJB disruptive activities contributed a lot too.
OPEN YOUR EYES WHAT THE HELLO HAS RANIL DONE TO BRING THE CORRUPT POLITICIANS WHO BROUGHT DOWN THE COUNTRY TO ITS KNEES AND MAJORITY SUFFERING LIKE NO OTHER TIME Thursday, 09 May 2024 03:00 PM
SORRY TO SAY NILMINI AND TISSA ARE ON THEIR OWN MISSION IN SUPPORTING THE FOX. THE EC IS CORRECT, HE LIKE MAJORITY OF US KNOW THE USUAL PRACTICE MP'S AND MINISTERS WILL START CREEPING INTO THE TOWNS WHERE THESE PROJECTS ARE LOCATED AND TRY TO CONVINCE THE PEOPLE THE DEVELOPEMENTS ARE A RESULT OF THEIR WORK FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM SUCH PROJECTS, WITH JOBS ETC. WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THOSE VOTERS WILL NOT BE DUPED INTO VOTING FOR THE FOX AND HIS STOOGES WHO WILL JOIN WITH HIM.
This is reality Thursday, 09 May 2024 08:08 AM
That is exactly what the general public expect from an in EC. Now that the pitch has been laid, the EC must continue to monitor the situation and step in each time a discrepancy is noted. The people must also assist the EC in every which way possible. The pitch has to be a neutral one for a perfect genuine and honestly played game.
UNPer Thursday, 09 May 2024 08:54 AM
The same old deceptive system is being tried again as usual. As the EC is saying, listen to the peoples voice and let it go the democratized way. RW - you are way higher in breeding than the MR types - do the right thing and you will win in a different way in the end.
Tissa Fernando Thursday, 09 May 2024 08:55 AM
Clear, JVP who wants to come to power does not want any development project in the country. They were against the highways, ports , airports , port city , uma oya project and other development work. They were against setting up private universities so students with money could learn in this country rather than going g to places like Belarus, Nepal, etc. They have destroyed public properties in the past .
RV Pillai Thursday, 09 May 2024 09:08 AM
Are these guidelines to Satisfy opposition and to be limited to papers on which they are printed? EC should be richly rewarded for allowing a Foreign citizen to be a Member of Parliament for nearly 4 years.
Onlooker Thursday, 09 May 2024 12:25 PM
This was not the current EC actions. All these were done by former EC under Deshapriya. He even allowed Gota to contest even though one Commissioner asked him to query but he neglected.
johan Thursday, 09 May 2024 09:42 AM
Development work they can do.We see recent appointment of 2000 Grama Niladaries, is it to achieve the political mileage of UNP or Pohuttuwa. EC must issue circular what are the activities the govt.must do at this stage
Kays Thursday, 09 May 2024 10:12 AM
Maybe we should lend this EC to the US--old Joe and young Kamala are running around opening Dream act projects while the presumptive opposition party nominee is nodding off in a courthouse!
LK Thursday, 09 May 2024 11:22 AM
This has been going on for decades since we had the elections. rice, money, jobs and all other things are given to win votes by all parties. This is the arts of politics in our parts. lure or cheat people to win votes. Ranil knows the minds, mentality, mindset, and attitude of people well.
Sulthan Sugathapala Thursday, 09 May 2024 11:49 AM
Run on loans and spend only half for development. Rest they use for personal use and election campaigns auspiciously with chants from clergy.
Dr Saman Thursday, 09 May 2024 12:13 PM
At last some common sense - it is blatantly obvious these activities are conducted aiming for the presidential elections that is due in a few months. Hats off to EC!
Abdul Majeed Mohammed Zacky Thursday, 09 May 2024 05:09 PM
Feather of the government can not be clipped ahead of the election. Anyway PAFFREL has accepted about the govt's people centered development activities. PAFFREL have to understand a responsible government can't be inactive towards the election that to be scheduled in Oct 2024
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