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Polls campaign: Code of conduct to be gazetted
Candidates contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections will be required to refrain from inviting voters or public officials as groups to their residence to entertain them and not make false allegations about rival parties and their activities according to a code of conduct to be gazetted next week.
Additional Elections Commissioner R.M.A.L. Ratnayake told the Sunday Times the code had been endorsed by all political parties this week and a final meeting to approve it would take place tomorrow.The code also restricts the use of propaganda material that harms the environment, prohibits candidates from making promises of financial assistance, laying of foundation stones for projects during the election period and promising appointments to positions.
Mr. Ratnayake said that though the proposal for a code for candidates had been discussed since 2012, this was the first time it would be gazetted. “So far all the political parties have agreed to this. If there are no objections to this, possibly we will gazette it by next week,” he said.
However, it will remain a code and not be legally binding.During a meeting with political party representatives on Thursday,
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya circulated a document on an ethics-based code of conduct which should be adhered to during the campaign.
The code also urges the candidates to refrain from making statements that aggravate hate or tension between communities.
It also calls on candidates not to abuse public funds, property or state resources for election propaganda activities.
Election monitoring bodies have welcomed the code and urged political parties to instruct their candidates to observe it during the campaign.
United National Party frontliner Karu Jayasuriya said his party welcomed the code and the candidates would abide by it.
“As a party which took over office to have good governance and hoping to improve it, we need to follow this code,” he said.
Mr. Jayasuriya pointed out that unlike the previous government which abused sate power, the UNP-led Government would not interfere with the work of the Elections Department or the Police.