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Candidates must possess values and morals, EC tells political parties

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake is asking political parties to take upon themselves the task of applying a criterion when nominating candidates until electoral reforms are finalised.

"Some uniform guidelines should be adopted by political parties in nominating candidates. Today it's not so. Some parties nominate very decent candidates while certain others nominate persons who don't have a clean history," the Commissioner pointed out.

He said some of those nominated are alleged to have committed crime or charged in courts. Mr. Dissanayake emphasized on the need for candidates to submit a police report as a provision prior to handing over nominations. "I have suggested even earlier that candidates should submit a certificate of police clearance along with the nomination papers to be accepted as a valid candidate. That is important in today's context."

Meanwhile, in the wake of decisions to hold the North Western Provincial elections within the first quarter of next year, swift moves are under way to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms at the earliest to revise the standards and values of the existing political culture.