President’s Secretary rejects EC request to halt state-run development and welfare programmes

The President’s Secretary has turned down a request by the Election Commission (EC) to issue written instructions to government officials to halt state-sponsored development and welfare programmes that the Commission claims is violating election law. 

EC Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake had earlier written to President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake stating that the Commission had received complaints from many parties that state-sponsored development and welfare programmes were being used to promote political parties / candidates. It had also noted that activists from various political parties have directly met with the EC to protest over such activities. 

The EC Chairman’s letter had pointed out that the local government election is still active given that it had not been cancelled and that arrangements have also been made to hold the presidential election soon. As such, he has asked the President’s Secretary to issue written orders and instructions to all government officials to stop such “illegal activities” that are being carried out in violation of the EC’s orders and to extend support to the EC to conduct a free and fair election. 

In his response, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has pointed out that the government’s development and welfare activities are part of the programme it has entered into with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revive the country’s economy. He has added that the government is not prepared to stop these programmes and push low income families, who are already struggling owing to the economic crisis, into further despair. 

Mr Ekanayake has informed the EC Chairman that given this situation, he is not in a position to interpret the government’s development and welfare programmes as “illegal activities” as per the Chairman's letter and that he is unable to issue written orders and instructions to government officials to halt such programmes.