Land Ministry vehicle used in election campaigns: CaFFE

9 August 2013 05:02 am Views - 3167

The Ministry of Lands admitted that the vehicle (KR 0262) which was confiscated by the Naula police during a clash between the supporters of Provincial Council (PC) candidates Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon and Thilak Bandara at Naula on July 28 belongs to the Ministry of Lands, the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE,) said.

The secretary to the Ministry of Lands Mr. Peiris writing to the Executive Director of CaFFE Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon admitted that the above mentioned vehicle was assigned to Minister of Land and said none of the vehicles belonging to this Ministry has been released for election campaigns.

In his letter the Secretary to the Ministry added that the Ministry is adhering to all the regulations and circulars’ issued by the Commissioner of Elections, however the manner in which the above mentioned vehicle has been used in Matale clearly violates several circulars issued by the commissioner.

 In addition the Commissioner of Elections has issued a circular (August 6) stating that apart from two vehicles of the Presidential Security Division (PSD,) no minister or ministerial staff members can engage in campaigning or use unregistered or ministerial vehicles in the three provinces where elections are held.