PAFFREL seeks legal action against four Ministries for violating election laws

The People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) will write to the Election Commission seeking action against four ministries for violating election laws, its executive director Rohana Hettiarachchi said.

Election laws, which came into effect on September 18 after the date for the presidential election was announced, prohibits activities such as granting appointments which could act as election propaganda, unless essential.

Mr. Hettiarachchi said that PAFFREL has so far received 18 complaints on the appointments to state bodies and the distribution of lands.

Appointments had been made to the Samurdhi Department (Ministry of Welfare), Grama Niladhari offices (Ministry of Home and Internal Affairs), Mahaweli Authority (Ministry of Enviornment), and the Central Development Fund (Ministry of Culture Affairs).

The PAFFREL Executive Director claimed that two letters sent to the Public Administration Ministry over this matter has not drawn a positive response so far.

(Reporting by Damith Wickramasekara)