SJB urges EC to ensure all candidates have level playing field

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has urged the Election Commission (EC) over what it claims is the unequal enforcement of election laws following the Commission's directive to stop the "Husma" and "Sakwala" community welfare programmes conducted by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. 

In a letter to EC Chairman R.M.A.L Rathnayake, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara has alleged that while the EC has ordered a halt to the two programmes conducted by Mr Premadasa that have no connection with his election campaign, it has not taken steps to halt any programmes run by the government that both misuse public funds and serve as election propaganda. 

The SJB General Secretary has expressed astonishment that the same EC that ordered the SJB to halt its programmes did not notice that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has already made his cash deposit to contest the upcoming presidential election, had attended the "Jayagamu Sri Lanka" programme held on Sunday organised by the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment, and had used it as a campaign event. 

The SJB General Secretary has emphasised the importance of ensuring a level playing field for all candidates and has urged the EC to take steps to halt all campaign events being conducted misusing public funds.