Elections Commissioner’s dead letter

24 October 2013 07:13 pm Views - 7813

A mason’s assistant received a disturbing warning letter from the Commissioner of Elections instructing him to furnish a declaration of assets before October 31, 2013 for having contested the recent central provincial council elections as a candidate of the New Democratic  Party.

Yapa Mudiyanselage Podiappuhamy of Rambukkana, Walalgoda had received a registered letter, marked “Priority Services,” signed by Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya instructing him to submit the above declaration before the date specified or face court action.

Podiappuhamy was perplexed by this letter, and showed it to the media. He said that he had no assets to declare and that he was a labourer with no regular income. He had only exercised his vote and never even dreamt of becoming a candidate. Fearing that legal action would be instituted against him he had visited the office of the assistant commissioner of elections, in Kegalle, to sort out this matter.

Those who had been at the elections office had told him that some mix up must have occurred and that he was free to take whatever measures he deemed fit.

Has Podiappuhamy been at the receiving end of a mix up or the target of someone’s practical  joke? (Karunaratne Atukorale)