News
Election Commission receives 269 complaints
View(s):
Hambantota: Display of posters at places other than meeting venues and party offices is a violation of election laws - Pic by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi
The Election Commission Office for complaints said that it had received 269 complaints related to election violations and violence following the nominations on Monday.
The office said that as of Friday (10) there had been five incidence of election violence and 262 complaints relating to violation of election laws.
The District Election Complaints Management Centre had received a complaint related to violence and 101 complaints of election law violations while the National Election Complaints Management Centre had received four complaints of violence and 161 complaints of election law violations.
Meanwhile, the official monitoring bodies recognised by the Election Commission said that there have been several reports of election law violations. They included thousands of state jobs being handed over to supporters of the United National Party led government.
The Centre for Monitoring election Violence (CMEV) said that it had received several reports on government officers being used for party campaigning work. “This is not allowed in the establishment code for state employees,” he said.
He said that staff officers are not allowed to participate in election campaigning even when off duty. Disciplinary action has to be taken against those who violate the law. “We will be writing to the Election Commission immediately,” he said.
The People’s Action for Free and Fair election (PAFFREL) has also received many complaints of state jobs being offered to supporters by the ruling parties and the organisation has written to the Election Commission. It said that it has requested strict disciplinary action against Ministry secretaries who violate the law and grant jobs during election time.