Second Complaint Filed Against President- Election Law Violations

The Elections Commission has received a second complaint against President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, accusing him of violating election laws during the ongoing local councils campaign. The complaint, submitted by the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) on Friday, follows an earlier submission made on April 2, which the watchdog body claims has yet to receive an acknowledgment.

This week's complaint introduces six new allegations against President Dissanayake, all related to speeches made during his election rallies. The CMEV’s original complaint focused on speeches delivered by the President in Tissamaharama on March 29 and Buttala on March 31. In the latest submission, the CMEV highlights speeches made in Kandy (April 10), Akkaraipattu and Sammanthurai (April 11), Kantale and Batticaloa (April 12), and Mannar (April 17).

In each of these rallies, President Dissanayake allegedly made statements suggesting that the financial needs of local councils would be delayed or ignored unless they were controlled by representatives of the National People's Power (NPP). According to the CMEV, the President claimed that proposals from other political parties would undergo excessive scrutiny and may be denied, whereas proposals from the NPP would be approved and funded without question.

“During every rally, the President said they would allocate the money ‘with their eyes closed’ only to the NPP proposals, which is simply unlawful,” explained Professor Arjuna Parakrama, the CMEV’s Chief Operating Officer. “This implies that voters have no choice but to vote for the NPP if they want their communities to receive vital funding for infrastructure like roads, schools, and irrigation systems.”

CMEV believes that such remarks contravene Sections 82C (Undue Influence) and 82D (Bribery) of the Local Authorities Election Ordinance, which prohibit the use of undue influence or bribery in the electoral process. As a result, they have filed the complaint with the Elections Commission, urging swift action to prevent further violations.

Professor Parakrama emphasized that the Election Commission must act decisively to ensure a free and fair election, warning that the continued use of such tactics could undermine the democratic process.

The Sunday Times reached out to the Election Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake, for comment. He acknowledged that while CMEV is a respected election monitoring body, the complaint could have been directed to the Presidential Secretariat for quicker processing. Ratnayake explained that the Commission’s legal division had been focused on ongoing court cases related to rejected nominations, which had created delays in addressing the CMEV’s complaint.

“It was likely an unintentional oversight,” he said, referring to the delay in acknowledging the complaint. “The Commission members are aware of the situation, and we plan to discuss it at the upcoming general meeting on April 21. We hope to come to an appropriate solution then.”

Election Commission Chairman, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, also commented on the issue, confirming that it would be raised during the next general meeting. "We will ensure that appropriate actions are considered and discussed with all Commission members,” he stated, expressing the Commission’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process.

As the local council elections continue, concerns about the potential impact of such violations remain high, with the CMEV urging both the Election Commission and the broader public to remain vigilant in the face of what it describes as attempts to manipulate the electoral outcome.