20 August 2024 08:10 am Views - 40
By Sheain Fernandopulle
With the Presidential Election around the corner, the government has come under fire over the misuse of public funds, including the use of government properties for election campaigns.
According to Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), they have received a flood of complaints over the misuse of government properties for election campaigns.
“This includes the use of multiple vehicles of five ministries for election campaigns. Further, 14 transfers have also been made in government institutions, violating the election law,” he said.
“These types of actions cannot be condoned ahead of a Presidential Election as it is a complete and clear violation of election law,” he added. Meanwhile, Hettiarachchi raised concerns about the move by the President to appoint two presidential advisors violating the election law.
“This act can be depicted as a deliberate violation of the election law. We have already informed the Election Commission regarding the appointment of the two presidential advisors,” Hettiarachchi said.
“The duo who have been appointed as presidential advisors are actively engaged in the election campaign of the President. Thus, the move is a tactic to promote a candidate, which is forbidden under the election law” he pointed out.
“Further, the benefits including vehicles entitled to the duo are misuse of public funds,” he noted.