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Candidates, state employees, be warned; Elections Commissioner flexes muscle
View(s):The Elections Department has read the riot act to candidates and state employees, warning them that the Commission has now more powers under the 19th Amendment to deal with them, without fear or favour, if they violate election laws.
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“People thought that the Elections Commissioner is powerless and could not take any action. But now we have the power to make this a truly free and fair election,” Deputy Commissioner M.M. Mohamed said, explaining a departmental circular on the guidelines to be followed by candidates and state employees.
The circular was issued days after Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya told the media that he was consulting the Attorney General and the Police Chief to assign special teams to expedite prosecution against election law violators.
According to the circular, no handouts, grants, donations, loans or compensation should be given during the campaign period. Even preparation of an eligibility list for these grants is prohibited.
The other guidelines are:
* No government servant can obtain duty leave to engage in election activities or work for or against a candidate during office hours.
* State vehicles should not be used for campaign work and an officer should be deployed in each state office to check travel notes daily.
* Ministers can keep the vehicles assigned to them but should abstain from displaying promotional stickers, banners or flags. If this rule is violated, the driver and officers in charge will be punished. In addition to this all vehicles should be duly registered and not display garage number plates.
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* No appointments, promotions and transfers of state officials should be made without the approval of the Election Commissioner.
Deputy Commissioner Mohamed said that they would ensure that these rules and regulations were duly carried out.
“All department heads and secretaries were informed regarding the circular. State officials violating the regulations will be taken to court. The offence carries a fine of Rs. 100,000 and a three year jail term,” the deputy commissioner said.
He said the 19th Amendment has given them the power to take prompt action against any violator.
Meanwhile election monitoring bodies said they were eagerly waiting to see a difference in the conduct of the election this time.
“These regulations and circulars are not new. The Elections Commissioner issued them during the past elections also, but the problem was that most candidates, especially ruling party candidates, did not adhere to the guidelines,” Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) Senior Manager Shan Wijethunge said.
However, he said they believed that this time, with more powers vested in the Commissioner of Elections, the misuse of public property would be minimised.